Market Signal Briefing

TLDR:

Digital asset treasuries deployed into ether.fi faster than ETFs, driving ether from $1,472 to $4,832
Crypto neobanks offer clearer adoption paths by exposing users directly to onchain activity and yield
Ether.fi CEO expects 2026 growth from user-friendly products combining stablecoins, yield, and custody
Institutional onboarding in 2025 established groundwork for mainstream financial services on Ethereum

Ethereum’s expansion in 2026 will stem from crypto-native neobanks rather than speculative trading, according to Mike Silagadze, CEO of ether.fi. 

The executive told CoinDesk that institutional adoption throughout 2025 established crucial infrastructure for mainstream financial services. 

Silagadze expects user-friendly products combining stablecoins, yield generation, and self-custody to accelerate widespread adoption across the network.

Institutional Adoption Marks 2025 as Turning Point
The ether.fi CEO characterized 2025 as a pivotal year for Ethereum’s institutional onboarding. Digital asset treasuries emerged as faster-moving vehicles compared to traditional ETFs, which continue to face limitations on staking capabilities. 

Mike Silagadze, CEO of ether fi, told CoinDesk that Ethereum’s growth in 2026 will be driven by crypto-native neobanks rather than speculation, as institutional adoption in 2025 laid the groundwork. He expects familiar, user-friendly financial products combining stablecoins,…

— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) January 4, 2026

“A bunch of them have already started deploying into ether.fi,” Silagadze said, describing these early institutional adopters as “very much on the bleeding edge.”

The CEO noted that digital asset treasuries “certainly had a positive impact on the price” of ether throughout the year. 

The cryptocurrency reached its lowest point at $1,472 in April 2025 before surging to $4,832 during peak institutional interest. 

This price movement reflected growing confidence among institutional players entering the Ethereum ecosystem through alternative investment vehicles.

The institutional wave represents more than short-term price action, according to Silagadze. These developments laid essential groundwork for 2026’s anticipated growth phase. 

Meanwhile, ether.fi expanded beyond its original restaking platform to develop comprehensive neobanking products that integrate yield opportunities with self-custody solutions.

Neobanks Position Ethereum for Mainstream Adoption
“The whole crypto neobank movement seems to be like a rapidly growing trend, just lots of companies going into space and seeing growth there,” Silagadze explained. 

Multiple platforms are building familiar financial products on blockchain infrastructure, offering advantages over traditional ETFs by exposing users directly to onchain activity. 

These developments position neobanks as clear pathways to sustained adoption as stablecoins become deeply embedded in global finance.

The CEO believes these platforms will attract mainstream users through practical, accessible services rather than speculative applications. This approach contrasts sharply with gambling-driven products that currently dominate portions of the crypto landscape. 

“I really believe that the adoption is going to come from a lot of these neobank type players,” Silagadze said.

Ethereum’s 2026 success depends on delivering practical utility at scale, the executive argued. The focus must shift toward “more real-world use cases,” from tokenized stocks to accessible banking services. 

Silagadze maintains that increased user activity will naturally follow as neobank platforms demonstrate tangible value through everyday financial services combining blockchain benefits with familiar user experiences.

Sun, 4/01/2026 - 16:50

Bitcoin bears are just 1% from max pain, with $112.84 million in short liquidations waiting at $91,963 per BTC, a level that turns the next move for the cryptocurrency into a short squeeze.

Cover image via U.Today

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Bitcoin is doing really well on the daily chart, and the derivatives board by CoinGlass is basically flashing a warning light at anyone still short.

BTC last printed around $91,222, up about 0.70% on the session. That might not sound like much, but when you look at the liquidation "max pain" map, you will see that for bears it is right next to the door.

The key number here is the short max-pain level at $91,962, a zone sitting about 1.09% above the current price tied to an estimated $112.84 million of short-side damage if the price taps it.

HOT Stories

BTC/USD by TradingViewThis is the part that market participants hate, because it is not about being "right" in terms of direction, it is about being in the wrong place at the wrong time, when there are too many people there.

Bear fuel for BitcoinWhen the price is within a percent of a known pressure point, even a normal push can turn into a forced buy. This is how a quiet grind suddenly turns into a fast candle that makes the chart look like it went parabolic.

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The other side of the map explains why bulls are not exactly panicking either. The long max pain sits much lower at $86,225 per BTC, about 5.21% away, and it carries a larger number, $226.89 million, which tells you where the bigger downside trap lives if the market flips risk-off.

For now, the plan is to hold above the current area, and a test of $91,963 will be the obvious trigger to watch because once that level is hit, the bear exit can become fuel.

Related articles

TLDR:

XRP retests an eight-year breakout pattern that previously produced a 40,000% expansion in 2017
Technical analysts project cycle targets between $8 and $10 if current demand zone support holds
XRP spot ETFs maintain zero daily outflows with net institutional inflows totaling $1.17 billion
Over $5 billion in XRP liquidity positioned above current $2.09 price level awaiting activation

XRP has captured market attention as technical analysts identify striking similarities to its 2017 breakout pattern. 

The token trades at $2.09 as of writing with a 24-hour volume exceeding $3.27 billion. Price gains stand at 4.56% over the past day and 12.16% across the previous week. 

Analysts observe a multi-year structural breakout that mirrors conditions preceding the 2017 rally. The cryptocurrency now retests critical support levels while maintaining a formation that took eight years to develop. Market participants debate whether history could repeat with similar magnitude.

Eight-Year Formation Mirrors Pre-2017 Technical Setup
The current technical structure shows remarkable parallels to XRP’s 2017 cycle. Crypto analyst CryptoPatel identifies a breakout from an eight-year base pattern. 

$XRP PRICE FORECAST | IS $10 POSSIBLE? | ANALYSIS BY CRYPTOPATEL#XRP Is Currently Retesting A Breakout That Took Nearly 8 Years To Form, A Rare, High-Timeframe, Cycle-Level Structure.

The Last Time This Setup Appeared (2017), XRP Delivered A 40,000% (400x) Expansion.

Current… pic.twitter.com/jycvqShsJ1

— Crypto Patel (@CryptoPatel) January 4, 2026

The last time this specific setup appeared, XRP delivered a 40,000% expansion over subsequent months. That rally transformed the token from obscurity into a top-tier cryptocurrency asset.

XRP has retraced roughly 57% from its recent all-time high during this retest phase. The token holds support within the $2 to $1.50 demand zone. 

Broader macro support exists between $1 and $0.80 should downside pressure continue. These levels represent crucial tests for the bullish thesis to remain intact.

Technical projections place cycle targets between $8 and $10 if the structure validates. This would mark a five to ten-fold increase from present levels. 

While the 2017 rally produced extraordinary gains, analysts suggest a more measured expansion appears likely. The maturation of cryptocurrency markets and increased liquidity could moderate percentage gains compared to previous cycles.

Institutional Flows Support Accumulation Thesis
XRP spot ETFs demonstrate persistent institutional interest through consistent inflows. The products have recorded zero daily outflows since launching in early January. 

Net inflows total $1.17 billion as professional investors maintain their positions. Analyst X Finance Bull characterizes this activity as structured accumulation rather than speculative positioning.

Panic sellers are staring at $XRP price 🚨
But the setup is in positioning

XRP Spot ETFs have had zero daily outflows since launch.

Net inflows: $1.17B

Volume flowing steady, even in a flat market.

This is accumulation with structure, not hype-driven pumps.

That 1.12%… pic.twitter.com/34ERX5KoqI

— X Finance Bull (@Xfinancebull) January 3, 2026

Volume continues flowing into these ETF products despite sideways price movement. This behavior contrasts with retail-driven rallies that typically see rapid outflows during corrections. 

Current market penetration stands at 1.12% for these newly launched products. The steady demand suggests conviction among institutional participants regarding future price potential.

Separately, market data reveals over $5 billion in XRP liquidity positioned above current price levels. 

Analyst Steph Is Crypto notes this concentration could accelerate movement if buying pressure materializes. The combination of technical structure and institutional positioning creates what some view as favorable conditions. 

However, cryptocurrency markets remain unpredictable with numerous factors influencing price direction. The 2017 comparison provides historical context but cannot guarantee similar outcomes in current market environments.

Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure

The positive start of the Bitcoin price to the new year was threatened on Saturday, January 3, as the cryptocurrency market reacted negatively to the recent United States military action in Venezuela. The flagship cryptocurrency briefly lost its hold above the $90,000 mark after US President Donald Trump announced the capture of the Venezuelan leader, Nicolas Maduro.

While the long-term impact of the latest US military strikes on the cryptocurrency market remains unknown, the Bitcoin price seems to be gearing up for an upward move in the short term. Interestingly, the latest on-chain data suggests that the cryptocurrency market leader could potentially reach a correction low.

Could A Bottom Be Forming For BTC Price?
Crypto analyst Darkfost revealed in a Quicktake post on the CryptoQuant platform that the most reactive group of Bitcoin investors, known as short-term holders (STHs), have remained under pressure, as the BTC price oscillates between the $85,000 and $92,000 levels.

Darkfost shared that the Bitcoin short-term holders have their estimated cost basis around $103,000, after accounting for the on-chain impact of Coinbase’s recent large BTC transfers. Based on data from CryptoQuant, the average unrealized losses for this investor cohort stand at around 15%.

As Darkfost explained in their Quicktake post, this figure was arrived at based on the percentage deviation from the short-term holder cost basis. “Using this approach makes it possible to identify periods when the most reactive and sensitive investors in the market are under stress,” the on-chain analyst said.

Source: CryptoQuant
From a historical perspective, when Bitcoin short-term holders witness significant drawdowns, and their average unrealized losses stand at around 15%, the formation of a correction low is often next for the premier cryptocurrency. According to Darkfost, BTC could be staring at a similar situation here.

However, the crypto analyst noted that this signal could be false, especially if the Bitcoin price is at the start of an extended bear market. A deep or prolonged bear market could cause the STH’s unrealized losses to stay above 15% for longer periods or open the door to persistent distribution.

Bitcoin Price At A Glance
As of this writing, the price of BTC stands at around $91,160, reflecting a more than 1% jump in the past 24 hours. According to data from CoinGecko, the flagship cryptocurrency has increased by nearly 4% in the past seven days.

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

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

The FBI has revealed a drastic surge in Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) ATM fraud, with swindlers making off with $333 million in 2025.

Scammers have been found to impersonate a bank or a company, flagging purported suspicious activity on the victim’s account. They then instruct the victim to deposit money into a Bitcoin ATM to secure their funds or rectify the issue. The deposited money, however, lands in the scammers’ account.

Bitcoin ATMs have seen a rapid rise in popularity in the US, with over 30,000 machines in operation in 2024, making up approximately 81.27% of the world’s Bitcoin ATMs. 

The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) revealed that more than 10,000 people fell prey to Bitcoin ATM-related fraud in 2025 alone.

Also Read: Crypto Market Move: Shiba Inu Hits Significant Price Point, Bitcoin Eyes $100,000, Ethereum Steady At $3,000, And Dogecoin Broke Above Key Resistance

“Based on IC3 reporting, data shows from January to November of 2025 there are over 12,000 complaints and over $333.5 million in monetary losses, an increase compared to the same time span last year,” the FBI said in a statement.

In 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) highlighted that cryptocurrency scams can be more financially ruinous than other types of fraud. 

Bitcoin ATMs were responsible for $114 million in reported losses in 2023 and $78 million in losses in 2022, indicating a more than twofold increase in just two years.

The FTC has issued a warning to the public to exercise caution when contacted by a bank or company, encouraging them to verify phone numbers and reach out to companies directly.

The agency also suggests not rushing transactions as scammers often press for a quick transaction.

Read Next

Bitcoin Soars To Unprecedented Heights, Breaking $125,000 Barrier

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

After a lackluster start to 2026, cryptocurrency prices have found their stride in a strong showing on January 4. Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Cardano (ADA), and XRP are in the green again, while smaller-cap cryptocurrencies are also posting impressive numbers.

BTC, ETH, ADA, XRP Lead Broader Crypto Rally
Traders are rubbing their hands in glee over impressive returns raked in by leading cryptocurrencies over the last day. According to CoinMarketCap data, the global cryptocurrency market capitalization surpassed $3 trillion for the first time in 2026, representing a near 3% surge in 24 hours.

BTC, the largest cryptocurrency, set the pace with an intra-day high of $89,824, with bulls watching the $90K psychological mark with optimism. At the end of 2025, Bitcoin price received a heavy pummelling before long-term holders hit the brakes on selling their coins, sparking optimism for a short-term rally.

On the other hand, Ethereum broke through the $3,000 mark, surging by nearly 3% over the last day. Meanwhile, daily transaction volume for the largest altcoin sits at an impressive $14.84 billion on the heels of a record network activity. 

ADA shook off its bearish sentiment from the New Year to pull in gains of over 7% to allay fears of a slump below the $1 mark. Among the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, DOGE scored the biggest daily gain, surging by 9.03% to trade at $0.1314.

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BNB and XRP posted respectable gains in the same time frame, rallying after a bleak start to the New Year. Furthermore, LINK soared by 6.37% in under 24 hours while SOL pulled in a 2% upswing to settle at $128. HBAR and PEPE scored double-digit gains with the memecoin surging by a staggering 37%, according to CoinMarketCap data.

Despite the market’s general uptick, the HYPE price fell by almost 5% over 24 hours. After a terrific run, ZEC also experienced a steep 6.89% drawdown, going against prevailing market sentiment.

Why Are Prices Up?
Several reasons can account for the surge in cryptocurrency prices. Right off the bat, Bitcoin’s price resilience to come within touching distance of the $90K mark signaled the start of the rally. Furthermore, long-term holders have reversed their selling spree, with spot Bitcoin ETFs notching $355 million in net inflows, breaking a seven-day losing streak.

For altcoins, Ethereum’s impressive network metrics, including its daily transaction volume, added steam to its price. Rising RWA value on Solana and Franklin Templeton’s endorsement of XRPL contributed to the altcoin buzz on January 2.

Former SWIFT CEO predicts the network will embrace cryptocurrencies like XRP once regulations stabilize.

Brian Njuguna2 min read

4 January 2026, 03:58 PM

Source: ShutterstockSWIFT Eyes XRP Adoption as Regulatory Clarity Emerges, Says Former CEORenowned crypto analyst SMQKE notes a growing trend that SWIFT may integrate cryptocurrencies like XRP as regulations become clearer. Former SWIFT CEO Gottfried Leibbrandt highlights the promise and challenges of bringing digital assets into traditional finance.

“I think that the big part of Ripple’s value proposition is the cryptocurrency XRP,” Leibbrandt acknowledged, noting that banks remain hesitant to adopt it due to currency volatility. 

His remarks show the cautious stance of global financial institutions, where the promise of faster, cheaper cross-border payments is tempered by the risks of fluctuating digital asset values.

SWIFT’s cautious stance is largely driven by the uncertain legal status of cryptocurrencies like XRP. With regulations still evolving across jurisdictions, risk-averse banks face potential legal and compliance pitfalls that often outweigh operational benefits. 

Experts note that until regulatory clarity improves, large-scale adoption of digital currencies by banks remains unlikely.

Despite regulatory and volatility challenges, crypto adoption in traditional finance is accelerating. Ripple’s XRP, built for cross-border payments, delivers faster settlements, lower fees, and greater transparency than conventional banking systems. 

SWIFT’s eventual integration of XRP could transform international transfers, replacing slow, costly processes with efficient, near-instant transactions.

Leibbrandt indicates that SWIFT is closely watching the crypto space and could move once volatility eases and regulatory clarity improves, especially as Crypto Clarity & Market Structure Bills progress. As the ecosystem matures, adopting digital assets may shift from a tech upgrade to a strategic necessity for banks to stay competitive.

ConclusionSWIFT’s adoption of XRP depends on clearer regulations and stabilized markets, but its impact could be transformative. By combining traditional banking with cryptocurrency efficiency, XRP promises faster, cheaper, and more transparent cross-border payments. As regulatory frameworks evolve, this move marks a pivotal step toward integrating digital assets into mainstream finance, positioning XRP as a cornerstone of the future global payment system.

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Brian Njuguna is a seasoned crypto journalist at Coinpaper, specializing in blockchain innovation, market trends, and regulatory developments. With a background in economics and years of experience covering the digital asset space, Brian delivers sharp, data-driven insights that cut through the hype. His reporting bridges global crypto narratives with emerging market perspectives, making complex topics accessible to a wide audience.

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After a difficult end to 2025, the altcoin market looks set to take the lead in the new year, being the most significant beneficiary from the recent post-holiday rally. Dogecoin, the largest meme coin by market capitalization, has jumped by nearly 24% since the turn of the year.

According to the latest on-chain data, the price of Dogecoin appears to be in a critical region at the moment. The relevance of this zone suggests that the meme coin may be merely at the start of an extended upward trend over the next few months.

Is It Time To Buy DOGE? 
In a January 3 post on X, Alphractal CEO and founder Joao Wedson said that Dogecoin has entered its most important accumulation zone. This on-chain observation is based on the recent changes in the CVDD (Cumulative Value Days Destroyed) Channel.

For context, the CVDD Channel is an on-chain indicator that tracks the volume of aged capital being sent into the market (Dogecoin, in this case). This metric is typically used in highlighting zones of long-term support or resistance based on the movement of aged coins on-chain.

Wedson highlighted in his post that the CVDD channels depend on Fibonacci-based levels on top of the CVDD curve. This metric creates historical value zones where price tends to react; with the blue CVDD lines, for instance, acting as strong structural support for the price of Dogecoin.

Source: @joao_wedson on X
As observed in the chart above, DOGE’s recent surge to around $0.15 came after its price bounced from the first blue level. In essence, these lower blue levels have historically proven to be good support cushions for the Dogecoin price.

According to Wedson, the lower CVDD Fibonacci zones often coincide with long-term accumulation phases for Dogecoin. Hence, it might be time to accumulate the meme coin, especially as its price is wedged within the blue CVDD zones.

Dogecoin Price Outlook 2026
As of this writing, the price of DOGE stands at around 0.1415, reflecting an over 2% jump in the past 24 hours. A broader look at the chart shows that Dogecoin seems to be heating up at the moment. According to data from CoinGecko, the meme coin’s value has increased by more than 15% in the last seven days. 

Following its red-hot action to kickstart the new year, the price of Dogecoin looks set for a positive run in 2026. Moreover, the altcoin market is being tipped to outperform Bitcoin this year. Hence, a renewed bullish momentum and a long-overdue altcoin season could have the DOGE price reaching new highs in 2026.

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

17h05 ▪
4
min read ▪ by
Evans S.

Summarize this article with:

At the end of 2025, Ethereum didn’t just finish the year well. It hit the accelerator, then it broke the crypto meter. On December 29, 2025, the network validated 2.23 million transactions in a single day. It is indeed a historic peak supported by numbers.

In brief

Ethereum ended 2025 on an onchain record, with several days close to 2 million transactions.
This sustained increase suggests a denser use of the network, beyond a simple speculative peak.

An end of year in hot crypto chain mode
For Tom Lee, tokenization marks a turning point for finance on the blockchain. His bet on an ETH at 62,000 dollars rests on a simple idea: more tokenized assets means more flows, thus more real use on Ethereum. And precisely, the on-chain data already speaks loudly: 2.23 million transactions on December 29, 2.12 million on the 30th, 2.13 million on the 31st, then nearly 1.98 million on January 2. Four very close days, which look less like a statistical accident than a network gaining momentum.

That’s where the reading becomes interesting. An extraordinary day might come from a one-off event, a wave of transfers linked to a platform, or a technical movement. But when several sessions align just shy of the record, it’s no longer an exception. It’s a rhythm.

The gap with the previous peak is clear. The day of January 14, 2024, long number one, is relegated lower in the ranking. In other words, the end of 2025 has not only beaten Ethereum’s history, it has moved it.

Why it runs so fast without a price explosion
Onchain activity is heating up, but ETH’s price isn’t sprinting at the same pace. That doesn’t mean the market “doesn’t understand”. It rather suggests that usage is not reduced to momentary speculation.

When transaction volumes rise without obvious euphoria, several possible drivers come to mind. We particularly think of stablecoin movements, arbitrages, portfolio rebalances, and operations linked to applications.

But we must also accept another reality. Part of this flow can be mechanical. It may involve bots, automations, micro-transfers, farming or distributions. In Crypto, noise is part of the signal. The question is not to deny this noise, but to know whether it dominates or accompanies a more “real” demand.

Ethereum remains a highway. We can criticize its fees, its complexity, its compromises. But when the network aligns multiple days close to two million transactions, it imposes a simple fact. There are many people on the road.

Moreover, the busier the network, the more the question of costs and fluidity returns to the center. If fees remain reasonable, the increase in activity looks like validation. But if fees soar, the network switches back to stress test mode, and alternatives can only reach out, including when actors like Arthur Hayes reduce their exposure to ETH and reroute millions towards DeFi.

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Evans S.

Fascinated by Bitcoin since 2017, Evariste has continuously researched the subject. While his initial interest was in trading, he now actively seeks to understand all advances centered on cryptocurrencies. As an editor, he strives to consistently deliver high-quality work that reflects the state of the sector as a whole.

DISCLAIMER

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

Will ETH dump to $1,500 or rocket to $10,000 this year?

Ethereum had a rocky 2025. It entered the year at around $3,300 following a strong Q4 2024, but quickly lost all of its momentum and dumped hard after the first wave of Trump-induced tariff threats. By early April, it had lost roughly 60% of its value, plunging to $1,400.

However, this turned out to be a proper buy-the-dip opportunity as ETH turned the tables in the following months and recorded a new all-time high of just under $5,000 in late August. As the community was anticipating another run to above that level, the trend changed once again, and ETH ended 2025 beneath $3,000. Moreover, it had nine monthly red closes in 2025, a first since the full-on bear market in 2018.

Consequently, we decided to ask ChatGPT about its opinion of ETH’s yearly performance in 2026.

The Bear Scenario
The popular AI solution warned that if the bears continue to control the market, the second-largest cryptocurrency could be on the verge of another massive decline to and below $2,000. It admitted that ETH struggled under the weight of several factors in 2025, such as “persistent selling pressure, weak on-chain activity growth, and rising competition from faster, cheaper Layer-1s.”

If market conditions worsen or capital continues to rotate away from Ethereum, the AI platform predicted that the underlying asset could “revisit the $1,500-$2,000 range, erasing much of its post-merge gains.”

Such a move would represent antoher 60% drawdown from cycle highs, a scenario that would “severely test long-term holders,” it added.

The Bull Market Narrative
In contrast, ChatGPT’s most bullish scenario envisions a massive price run to as high as the low five digits. This so-called “most aggressive forecast” sees ETH reclaiming market leadership in “dramatic fashion.”

You may also like:

Ethereum Suffered Worst Year Since 2018: 9 Red Months in 2025

BitMine Doubles Down on Ethereum as Markets Cool into Year-End

Crypto Derivatives Hit $85.7 Trillion in 2025 as Binance Tightens Its Grip on the Market

If Ethereum reasserts itself as the settlement layer for global finance, benefits from renewed DeFi growth, and experiences institutional adoption acceleration, the upside for its price movements can be “massive.”

In a full-on bull market, especially if it’s driven by real utility rather than speculation, ETH could skyrocket to somewhere between $7,000 and $10,000, ChatGPT explained.

Conclusion
The AI chatbot indicated the ETH enters the new year in an “unfamiliar position: battered, doubted, and written off by many.” It added that whether the asset sinks toward $1,500 or explodes toward $10,000, its next move could “redefine the entire crypto market – and 2026 may be the year that decides its fate.”

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Wintermute faced scrutiny for two recent events: dumping Bitcoin onto Binance during New Year's Eve's thin liquidity, then scrambling to accumulate coins in what appeared to be urgent buying ahead of the Fed announcement on Jan. 2.

The claims paint a picture of coordinated manipulation: sell into weakness, buy back cheaper. On-chain data supports the first accusation, but not the second.

The evidence comes from blockchain transaction records, not from exchange order books. Every flow analyzed involves addresses labeled by Arkham as belonging to Wintermute on one side and Binance hot wallets on the other.

This methodology captures custody transfers between the market maker and the exchange but reveals nothing about what happens inside Binance's matching engine. A Bitcoin deposit could trigger immediate market sell orders or sit idle as inventory.

The blockchain records movement, not intent.

On-chain data confirms the Dec. 31 dumpOn Dec. 31, 2025, Wintermute moved 1,518.6 BTC to Binance while withdrawing only 305.5 BTC, a net deposit of 1,213 BTC, worth approximately $107 million at the day's prices near $88,000.

The timing concentrated during traditionally low-liquidity windows.

The largest transfers hit at 06:43 UTC (148.5 BTC) and 18:10 UTC (443 BTC), hours when Western markets sleep, and Asian trading desks wind down. Bitcoin dropped from $92,000 on Dec. 30 to break below $90,000 on Dec. 31, bottoming near $91,500 that evening.

Wintermute's heaviest deposits bracket the intraday low.

Wintermute deposited more Bitcoin to Binance than it withdrew across three consecutive days, with Jan. 2 showing the highest bidirectional flow.The pattern persisted beyond New Year's Eve. On Jan. 1, 2026, Wintermute pushed another 1,559.2 BTC to Binance while pulling 935.1 BTC back, a net deposit of 624 BTC, roughly $55 million.

On Jan. 2, the flow continued: 1,631.7 BTC deposited, 814.4 BTC withdrawn, for a net 817 BTC moving onto the exchange. Over three consecutive days, Wintermute deposited 2,654 BTC to Binance and withdrew 2,055 BTC, leaving roughly 600 BTC on the exchange's infrastructure.

This directional flow supports the dumping accusation in raw magnitude and timing.

Wintermute moved substantial Bitcoin onto Binance precisely when liquidity thins and price pressure amplifies. Whether the firm executed immediate sales or staged inventory for gradual distribution remains unknowable from blockchain data alone.

Yet, the custody transfers themselves establish clear selling pressure during vulnerable market conditions.

Accumulation thesis debunkedThe second accusation that Wintermute urgently accumulated Bitcoin on Jan. 2 collapses under scrutiny of the same on-chain records.

Across 14 transaction datasets spanning 05:15 to 17:55 UTC on Jan. 2, Wintermute received 2,091.8 BTC from external counterparties (including WBTC on Ethereum) and sent out 2,509.7 BTC.

The firm ended the day with 418 BTC, down from its start. That represents net distribution, not accumulation.

The hourly breakdown reveals classic two-sided market-making rather than directional buying. Wintermute showed net inflows during early-morning sessions and again around 09:00 and 13:00-14:00 UTC, totaling roughly 590 BTC in positive flow.

But those accumulation windows got swamped by net outflows concentrated at 10:00, 15:00, and into 17:00 UTC, where combined distributions exceeded 1,000 BTC. The cumulative position traced a sawtooth pattern, consisting of alternate buying and selling, that ended well below zero.

Urgent accumulation produces a steep upward ramp, and Wintermute's Jan. 2 activity produced the opposite.

Binance absorbed the largest net outflow from Wintermute on Jan. 2, while smaller exchanges like Gate and Crypto.com supplied net inflows.Counterparty analysis reinforces this interpretation. Wintermute pulled BTC from Gate, Crypto.com, Bullish, Bitfinex, KuCoin, and Bybit, exchanges that reported net inflows.

However, Binance alone absorbed 933 BTC of net deposits from Wintermute that day, dwarfing the inflows from other venues.

When netted across all tagged exchange addresses in the datasets, Wintermute's CEX flows landed almost flat, with only single-digit BTC net movement. The bulk of the 418 BTC reduction came from outflows to unlabeled addresses not clearly identified as exchanges or DeFi protocols.

The gross turnover of 4,600 BTC documents intense trading activity. Yet, turnover measures velocity, not direction. A market maker rotating inventory across venues to capture spreads generates identical volume signatures to a trader accumulating a position.

The distinction lies in net flows. Wintermute's Jan. 2 net flows point unambiguously toward distribution rather than accumulation.

What on-chain data can and cannot proveThree constraints limit the conclusions that can be drawn from blockchain records.

First, the datasets capture only addresses labeled as Wintermute or specific exchanges, and activity involving untagged wallets disappears from view.

Second, on-chain transfers timestamp custody changes, not trades. A BTC deposit on Dec. 31 could remain untraded for days or execute instantly. The blockchain cannot distinguish.

Third, the analysis excludes activity on other networks and synthetic BTC products. Hedges through CME futures, perpetual swaps on offshore exchanges, or BTC-collateralized debt positions would not appear in spot BTC or WBTC transaction logs.

Within those constraints, the data establishes clear facts. Wintermute deposited substantial Bitcoin to Binance during year-end low-liquidity periods, with continued net deposits through Jan. 2.

That directional flow aligns with selling pressure during vulnerable market conditions.

The timing, scale, and persistence across three consecutive days support the Dec. 31 dumping accusation, though orderbook data would be required to confirm actual execution.

The Jan. 2 buying accusation finds no support in the same records. Wintermute ended that trading session with 418 BTC less than it started, demonstrating a net reduction rather than accumulation.

The firm turned over a massive volume but finished lighter on Bitcoin, not heavier, a behavior consistent with active market-making.

Transaction patterns show inventory rotation across venues, not panic buying.

The gap between blockchain transparency and orderbook opacity creates space for competing narratives. On-chain data proves Wintermute moved large Bitcoin positions onto exchanges during stressed market conditions.

Whether that constitutes manipulation or market-making depends on execution strategies invisible to blockchain observers.

The Dec. 31 flows warrant scrutiny, while the Jan. 2 flows do not support the accumulation narrative.

Mentioned in this article

According to market observers, the US strikes on Venezuela early Saturday are not expected to push Bitcoin into a large sell-off. The strikes took place at around 6 a.m. UTC and lasted for about 30 minutes, reports show.

Michael van de Poppe, founder of MN Trading Capital, wrote on X that he does not expect “a widespread correction” tied to the attack, arguing the event was planned and has already passed market participants. Other analysts shared a similar view, saying dramatic moves usually come when traders expect worse things ahead.

Bitcoin: Market Moves And Liquidations
Based on reports, Bitcoin held firm above the $90,000 mark. CoinGecko data showed a rise of 1.50%, putting the token at $91,320 at the time of publication.

I don’t think we’ll see a widespread correction based on the attack in Venezuela on #Bitcoin.

It’s a planned and coordinated attack on Maduro, and is already past us.

The likelihood of more negativity on the markets from that single event are relatively slim.

I would assume…

— Michaël van de Poppe (@CryptoMichNL) January 3, 2026

CoinGlass figures indicate about $60 million in Bitcoin positions were liquidated over the prior 24 hours, with roughly $55 million of that coming from short bets. That kind of forced selling can amp up volatility for a short period. Still, the broader pattern this time looked muted.

Historical Drops Have Happened Fast
There have been episodes when conflict pushed prices down quickly. In June 2025, for example, Bitcoin fell nearly 3%, sliding from $106,000 to $103,000 inside roughly 90 minutes after explosions in Tehran.

Bitcoin is now trading at $91,563. Chart: TradingView
Traders point out that sudden moves often follow when markets fear ongoing escalation. Here, many market watchers see less chance of follow-up actions that would deepen panic.

Federal Debt And Genesis Day In The Middle Of Market Noise
Based on reports, the US national debt passed $38 trillion on Saturday, with the US National Debt Clock placing it near $38.5 at the time. That milestone came as Bitcoin fans marked “Genesis Day,” the anniversary of the first block mined by Satoshi Nakamoto.

Happy Bitcoin Genesis Block day

— Paolo Ardoino 🤖 (@paoloardoino) January 3, 2026

Paolo Ardoino, CEO of stablecoin issuer Tether, posted a celebratory message, while Sam Callahan, director of strategy and research at BTC treasury firm OranjeBTC, echoed the sentiment.

For many in the community, the headline embedded in the Genesis Block remains a symbol of a monetary system capped in supply and not subject to the same printing pressures as fiat.

Yeah generally the market really nukes when we expect things to get worse afterwards which doesn’t seem to be the case. Could see this actually bring some green to the market as people take this as a sign of strength tho

— Tyler Hill (@Tylerhill) January 3, 2026

Community Reaction And Context
Reports have shown some in the crypto space treated events like the strike and the rising US debt as separate but related stories. A few traders said the strike could bring “green” to markets as investors interpret decisive action as a sign of control, an outlook voiced by analyst Tyler Hill.

Meanwhile, others emphasized that the immediate market response has been calm rather than panicked. Social posts and onchain flows were watched closely by hedge funds and retail traders alike.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Bitcoin is moving slowly this weekend, but important price levels are starting to take shape. After breaking higher on Saturday, the price has paused, showing a steady market mood. While there has not been a major rally yet, the overall setup shows that Bitcoin is still holding strength.

Bitcoin Holds Support Near $90,400The most watched level right now is around $90,400. This price previously acted as resistance and has now turned into support. Bitcoin reacting positively to this area is a healthy sign for the market.

As long as BTC stays above this level, buyers appear to remain in control. A strong hold here could help Bitcoin build momentum for another push higher in the coming days.

What Happens If Bitcoin Pulls Back?If Bitcoin fails to stay above $90,400, the next support zone sits near $89,400. This level has already played an important role in recent price action and could attract buyers if the market dips.

A move below this area would not signal a major breakdown, but it could slow the current recovery and keep Bitcoin trading sideways for longer.

Resistance Levels Still AheadOn the upside, Bitcoin faces resistance between $92,800 and $93,000. This area stopped previous rallies and could once again test buyer strength. A clear move above this range would improve short-term confidence in the market.

If momentum increases, some analysts believe Bitcoin could move toward the $97,000 to $98,000 range. However, this would likely require stronger trading activity and broader support from the crypto market.

Market Outlook Remains PositiveBitcoin is rising at a slower pace compared to some altcoins, which have seen sharper gains recently. This shows the market is calm rather than overheated and is not showing signs of weakness.

For now, Bitcoin remains stable, supported by strong price zones. As long as these levels hold, the path forward continues to lean slightly bullish.

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PIPPIN price surged sharply over the past 24 hours, posting a 31% gain after days of bearish performance. The rebound aligns with improving macro cues across the meme coin sector. 

While the move has drawn attention, traders remain cautious, questioning whether the rally can evolve into a sustained trend reversal.

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Pippin Holders Accumulate Amid Price RiseInvestor demand for PIPPIN increased noticeably during the last 24 hours. On-chain data from Nansen shows a decline in PIPPIN balances held on centralized exchanges.

Falling exchange reserves often signal capital moving into private wallets, suggesting accumulation rather than immediate selling intent.

Over the same period, investors purchased approximately 2.2 million PIPPIN tokens. This buying activity reflects improved confidence following the price rebound.

Reduced exchange supply can ease near-term selling pressure, providing short-term support as market participants reassess the token’s outlook.

Want more token insights like this? Sign up for Editor Harsh Notariya’s Daily Crypto Newsletter here.

PIPPIN Exchange Holdings. Source: NansenSponsored

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Derivatives data paints a less optimistic picture. Futures market indicators show traders lack strong bullish conviction. Funding rates briefly turned positive toward the end of January 3, indicating long positions outweighed shorts during the early phase of the rally.

That optimism proved short-lived. At the time of writing, funding rates have shifted back toward neutral or negative territory. This change suggests traders are repositioning for downside risk rather than chasing upside continuation.

Such indecision reflects uncertainty about PIPPIN’s trend strength. When futures traders hesitate, spot market rallies often struggle to gain follow-through. The lack of sustained bullish leverage implies expectations of a pullback rather than a clean breakout.

Pippin Funding Rate. Source: CoinglassPIPPIN Price Has a Long Way to GoPIPPIN trades near $0.488, sitting just below the $0.514 resistance level. The meme coin rebounded sharply from the $0.366 support, driving the recent 31% gain. However, price now faces a critical test as buyers approach a historically restrictive zone.

Sustaining the rally depends on continued investor support. PIPPIN remains about 47% below its all-time high of $0.720. To pursue that level, price must first flip $0.600 into support, which would require stronger conviction and broader market participation.

PIPPIN Price Analysis. Source: TradingViewFailure to clear $0.514 could repeat prior patterns. If sellers reassert control, PIPPIN may slip below $0.434. A deeper drop toward $0.366 would invalidate the bullish thesis and confirm the rebound as a short-lived corrective move.

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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.

Usually, the market tries to keep it calm on Sundays, but early 2026 was not going to wait for Monday to start throwing numbers around. One big SHIB address got fed directly from Coinbase Prime for 1.44 trillion coins, XRP derivatives market managed to liquidate almost only one side in the last hour, and Bitcoin is sitting in that familiar zone where a single weekly push can make $100,000 stop sounding like a dream and start sounding like a done deal.

TL;DRA whopping 1.44 trillion SHIB was transferred from Coinbase Prime to a single new Shiba Inu whale address.XRP experienced an 18,913% liquidation imbalance, with shorts facing the brunt of the impact.Bitcoin maintains its position at $100,000 as the January headline level.Unknown Shiba Inu whale empties Coinbase for 1.44 trillion SHIBSHIB printed a clean exchange-drain setup on Sunday afternoon, not the usual vague wallet shuffle. A Coinbase Prime hot wallet sent nine transfers in a row to the same address, 0xb57, for a total of 1.439574 trillion SHIB in one visible stream, as per Arkham.

Now this address shows a balance of 1.44 trillion SHIB, which is about $12.58 million, and SHIB was trading around $0.0000087 when the move happened.

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When tokens exit an exchange, the market instantly prices the "less coins on venues" angle, regardless of the reason. It does not guarantee long-term lockup. Custody reshuffles, cold storage or staging wallets are still considered short-term supply.

Source: ArkhamThe price reacted like it always does when supply and demand are out of balance. On the daily SHIB/USDT chart, Shiba Inu opened near $0.00000809, went up to $0.00000880, dropped to $0.00000807 and is around $0.00000872 now, which is a 7.79% daily gain.

The structure is easy to read. Right now, the market is testing the $0.00000900 line. And if you look at the numbers above that, you will see $0.00001102 and $0.00001203, which are the next upside checkpoints. If the price dips below $0.00000699, it could invalidate the bounce.

The near-term outlook is binary. If it is above $0.00000900 per SHIB, it will keep going up. If you lose it, the move just gets filed away as another custody change, with no lasting impact. The next sessions will decide which version sticks for the Shiba Inu coin.

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XRP stuns bears with 18,913% liquidation imbalanceThe XRP part is all about derivatives, but the numbers are so uneven that you don't need fancy language to sell it. The liquidation heat map by CoinGlass shows XRP liquidations at $875,080, with $4,600 in long liquidations and $870,480 in short liquidations. That split is the whole story because it means the last hour mostly wiped out people leaning short, which is how you get a headline like "18,913% liquidation imbalance" without needing any extra context.

What makes it interesting is that the XRP price itself is not behaving like a coin that just went vertical. On the XRP/USDT chart, the latest print is $2.0863 with the hourly low at 2.0833, and it is basically flat. The session also shows that XRP spent the day grinding from the low $2.03 area into the $2.09 zone and then moving sideways near the highs.

Source: CoinGlassThe imbalance here indicates problems. Shorts getting destroyed and the price looking controlled suggest a two-way scenario: a crowded short being forced out on a small push or liquidations happening in one place while spot stays calm. Either way, wrong positioning continues.

If XRP stays at $2.08 and does not bounce back, the next liquidation print can go from "shorts got hit" to "late longs got baited," which is usually when things on the price chart get chaotic.

For now, it seems like the market read that bears tried to fade the move and paid for it, while spot traders watched it happen without needing a fireworks candle.

Is $100,000 for Bitcoin in January inevitable?Bitcoin is the piece that makes this whole Sunday pack into a bigger story, because the weekly chart is already doing the job for the bull case. The BTC/USDT weekly candle by TradingView printed at $87,952.71 at the open, hitting a high of $91,810.00 — up 3.90% for the week.

If you look at the Bollinger Bands on that same weekly view, you will see that the midline is at $103,522.98, the lower band is at $79,800.54, and the upper band is up at $127,245.41.

BTC/USD by TradingViewWhy is the $100,000 number popping up? It is right there in the sweet spot between the current price and the mid-band. And let's face it, markets love a good chat about that mid-band — it is like the obvious "next test" line in trending phases.

Could we expect a payment of $100,000 in January? That word is doing too much, but the setup is obvious. If Bitcoin's price can keep hitting new weekly highs around the $90,000s and start pushing toward that $103,522.98 midline, hitting $100,000 might make sense. If Bitcoin loses steam and dips toward the lower end of the range, the January 2026 $100,000 prediction could be looking a lot more like a late 2025 scenario.

Crypto market outlookThe first Sunday of 2026 delivered a very specific combo.

If follow-up SHIB transfers keep coming from exchange-tagged sources, that part turns from headline into trend, and if XRP keeps sitting near the highs after wiping shorts, the next wave of leverage will decide whether the squeeze is done or just starting.

Shiba Inu (SHIB): price last shown around $0.00000872 after a 7.79% daily move, with $0.000009 as the line to reclaim, then $0.00001102 and $0.00001203 above and $0.00000699 as the level that defines failure.XRP: last shown around $2.0863, with the day swinging from the low $2.03 area into the $2.09 zone.Bitcoin (BTC): weekly close shown at $91,380.58, with $103,522.98 as the Bollinger midline target, $79,800.54 as the lower band reference and $127,245.41 as the upper band cap.
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Crypto Market Turns Bullish AgainThe $crypto market is showing clear signs of renewed bullish momentum at the start of 2026. Bitcoin has successfully pushed back above the $90,000 level, a key psychological and technical zone, helping restore confidence across the market.

With Bitcoin holding higher highs and total market capitalization expanding, risk appetite is returning — a setup that historically benefits high-beta assets and memecoins the most.

Bitcoin Price Above $90K Sets the Tone$Bitcoin breaking and holding above $90K has acted as a strong catalyst. The move confirms that buyers remain in control after late-2025 consolidation, and it has triggered capital rotation into altcoins and speculative assets.

This kind of environment typically favors coins with strong momentum and social traction — exactly where memecoins like PEPE thrive.

Bitcoin price in USD over the past week - TradingView

PEPE Price Surges Over 60% in Just 7 Days$PEPE has emerged as one of the top performers of the week, posting gains of more than 60% over the last 7 days, according to the attached market data.

Key highlights:

Strong breakout from a multi-day consolidation rangeSharp increase in trading volumeRapid price acceleration following Bitcoin’s move above $90KThe chart shows a clean momentum-driven rally starting at the turn of the year, with PEPE breaking above previous resistance levels and attracting aggressive dip-buying.

PEPE/USD 1H - TradingView 

Why PEPE Is OutperformingPEPE’s move isn’t happening in isolation. Several factors are aligning:

Bullish market conditions driven by BitcoinMemecoin rotation, as traders seek higher upsideLow time-frame momentum, which fuels speculative flowsIn bull phases, memecoins often deliver outsized percentage gains, and PEPE is currently fitting that pattern perfectly. If you want to trade memecoins with a solid crypto exchange, make sure to pick one from our list after comparing which option is best for you.

PEPE Price Prediction: What Comes Next?From here, PEPE’s trajectory will largely depend on overall market strength.

Bullish scenario:
If Bitcoin holds above $90K and momentum continues, PEPE could extend its rally, targeting higher resistance zones above current levels. Continuation moves after consolidation would not be unusual in this type of market.

Neutral scenario:
PEPE may enter a consolidation phase after such a sharp weekly gain, building a base before attempting another push higher.

Risk scenario:
As with all memecoins, volatility remains extremely high. A sudden market pullback could trigger fast corrections, even if the broader trend stays bullish.

In crypto news this week, Bitcoin soared past the $90,000 mark, while Ethereum, Dogecoin, and XRP also experienced significant rallies.

Meanwhile, Iran is reportedly using cryptocurrency to trade advanced weapons amid sanctions and economic crisis. In other news, Michael Saylor of Strategy Inc. made headlines with his comments on Bitcoin, and the FBI revealed a surge in Bitcoin ATM scams in 2025. Memecoins also kicked off the new year with strong gains.

Bitcoin Breaks $90,000 BarrierBitcoin started the year on a high note, spiking above $90,000. This surge came despite spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs recording net outflows this week.

Read the full article here.

Iran Turns To Cryptocurrency For Weapons TradeIran is reportedly using cryptocurrency to circumvent Western financial sanctions, offering to sell advanced weapons systems to foreign governments in exchange for digital currencies. The state-run Ministry of Defence Export Center, or Mindex, is open to negotiating military contracts that allow payment in digital currencies.

Read the full article here.

See Also: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP ETFs End The Year Strong With $443M Inflows

Michael Saylor’s Bitcoin Comments Stir ControversyMichael Saylor, executive chairman of Strategy Inc., stated that Bitcoin makes the company’s stock “interesting.” However, Polymarket traders bet 76% that the company gets booted from MSCI by March 31.

Read the full article here.

Bitcoin ATM Scams On The RiseThe Federal Bureau of Investigation revealed that scammers defrauded Americans of more than $300 million in 2025 through Bitcoin ATMs. The FBI observed a “clear and constant rise” in fraudulent transactions involving cryptocurrency kiosks.

Read the full article here.

Memecoins Start 2026 With Strong GainsMemecoins began 2026 on a strong note, with popular names recording sharp rallies on New Year's Day. Frog-themed Pepe rose 26% from the previous day, topping the large-cap memecoin gainer list. Solana-based Bonk followed Pepe with a 12% uptick.

Read the full article here.

Read Next:

Trump Pardoned 3 Crypto Felons In 10 Months—Here’s What Each One Cost
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

© 2025 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

TLDR:

FET price halted its downtrend by breaking the daily sequence of lower highs and reclaiming former resistance as support.
Weekly charts show a downside deviation, with price quickly rejecting lower levels and returning into a historically reactive range.
CoinGecko data shows FET trading at $0.2623, up 13.67% daily and 20.67% weekly with strong volume.
The setup reflects easing selling pressure and defined risk, not a confirmed macro trend reversal.

After months of persistent losses, FET price action has shifted for the first time in the current cycle. The token has stopped printing new lows and begun stabilizing near a historically reactive zone. 

Short-term structure changes have drawn attention from traders tracking market behavior rather than momentum. Fresh data now shows rising activity alongside a sharp price reaction.

FET Price Breaks Bearish Structure on Daily Chart
FET spent several months trending lower with consistent lower highs and lower lows. That pattern defined the broader bearish structure. According to a detailed breakdown shared by EliZ on X, that sequence has now broken.

$FET
after months of steady and continuous decline, the price finally did something different: it stopped making new lows, began to compress downwards and then left a first decisive reaction from the support, breaking the bearish micro-structure on the daily chart. This is often… pic.twitter.com/lAW2Px3rK8

— EliZ (@eliz883) January 4, 2026

Price compression replaced the prior steady decline. Volatility narrowed as selling pressure weakened. The market then reacted decisively from a known support zone.

On the daily chart, FET reclaimed an area that previously acted as resistance. That zone now holds as short-term support. This shift marks the tradable change highlighted in the analysis.

The move does not rely on how far price had fallen. Instead, it reflects altered behavior. If FET loses this reclaimed area without reaction, the setup fails by definition.

Data from CoinGecko shows FET trading at $0.2623 at publication time. The token posted a 13.67% gain over 24 hours. Weekly performance stands at a 20.67% increase.

FET price on CoinGecko
Trading volume reached $134.5 million during the same period. The spike confirms active participation during the rebound phase. Liquidity returned as price responded from support.

Weekly Deviation Signals Short-Term Base Formation
The weekly chart adds further context to the move. FET traded into a zone that triggered reactions in earlier market cycles. Price briefly pushed below that range before snapping back.

That move created a classic deviation. The downside break failed to hold. Price re-entered the prior range quickly.

According to the shared analysis, this behavior does not confirm a trend reversal. It instead signals a lack of follow-through from sellers. Markets often show this pattern during early base-building phases.

The weekly rejection aligned with improving daily structure. Together, they suggest reduced downside control. However, no macro bottom call accompanies the setup.

EliZ emphasized that the opportunity remains asymmetric. Risk stays defined as long as reclaimed levels hold. Failure invalidates the idea without ambiguity.

FET now trades within a zone where buyers and sellers recently contested control. That balance reflects a change from prior one-directional selling. Price behavior, not narrative, defines the shift.

Market participants continue to monitor follow-through. For now, structure dictates positioning. Data confirms activity, while charts outline risk boundaries.

According to Token Terminal data, the amount of Ethereum deposited to Aave has reached an all-time high, crossing 3 million ETH and approaching 4 million ETH as of January 4, 2026. 

The announcement comes just as DeFiLlama published its top 10 protocol list by total value locked (TVL), naming Aave as the number one in the report.

ETH deposits on Aave protocol reached a new record high. Source: Token Terminal
Aave has seen record highs in Ethereum deposits since 2025
To truly appreciate how far Aave has come in 2026, one needs to zoom out and return to 2024, which is around the time when TVL started to take off on Aave. The borrowed liquidity metric also paints a clearer picture of the utility the network has come to be associated with.

Between 2024 and 2025, the Aave protocol processed billions in debt, recording just over $3 billion in borrowed funds at the start of 2024, a figure that ballooned to over $30.5 billion when it reached an all-time high in September 2025.

In the same year, Aave saw its highest monthly revenue reach $14.4 million in January, with revenue crossing $13 million in September before ending the year at $7.57 million.

All that has positioned Aave as the top lending protocol. As of January 2026, its overall TVL has reached $35 billion, and most of it is parked in the Ethereum mainnet.

Going into 2026, Aave still leads the lending industry, and its relationship with ETH only solidifies that link. Token Terminal called the arrangement between both chains a win-win situation because, as Aave creates demand for ETH, ETH expands the revenue-generation capacity of Aave. This has spurred investor confidence in the Aave protocol and kept it ahead of other lending protocols.

Aside from the Aave platform, Compound Finance, Morpho, and Spark, the lending arm of MakerDAO, also reported high ETH deposits.

Vitalik Buterin is bullish on Aave’s role in Ethereum
According to an article from Ethereum’s founder, Vitalik Buterin, low-risk DeFi like Aave has the potential to become the “search” to Ethereum, which he likened to “Google.”

According to him, low-risk DeFi is a great solution because it has irreplaceable value and is good for sustainability due to its ability to generate significant transaction fees without becoming a parasite.

Buterin also mentioned how, unlike Google’s ad model, which is focused on data harvesting, low-risk DeFi is a great option because it does not unnecessarily subject the L1 to pressure for the sake of speed.

As far as he is concerned, this signals alignment and makes more sense as a revenue generator. He claimed it also makes it easier to defend Ethereum’s impact because its biggest use case would not be to facilitate “digital monkey” sales.

Buterin called low-risk DeFi a stepping stone that can ultimately help the Ethereum ecosystem get closer to its more advanced goals.

Want your project in front of crypto’s top minds? Feature it in our next industry report, where data meets impact.

Dormant bitcoin addresses collectively moved 123,852.58 BTC in 2025—now worth more than $11 billion—while over 1,000 long-idle wallets stirred back to life during the year. Figures from Btcparser indicate that this activity clustered heavily around wallets created more than ten years ago, with a clear tilt toward bitcoin's earliest adoption era.

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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.

Within a five-minute period, spot inflows increased by about 1,671%, a significant enough shift to cause price reactions and distort short-term order flow. Although these figures are current and subject to sudden change, the signal itself is more important than the number reported by CoinGlass.

Why Bitcoin is strongSpot flows as opposed to leveraged bets are actual capital purchases and sales of the underlying asset. Spot inflow spikes of this magnitude typically indicate large transfers into spot venues that are executed right away or aggressive market purchases. Compared to futures-driven pumps, which frequently fail once leverage unwinds, that is quite different.

Source: CoinGlassFollowing a harsh correction from the highs, there is now a surge. Leverage was shaken out as Bitcoin dropped from above six figures into the low-$90,000 range. The majority of the damage was already done, according to liquidation data, with longs being wiped out and open interest cooling.

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The reset is important. In terms of structural health, spot demand entering the market after leverage has been removed is preferable to chasing the price during euphoric times.

Market is yet to catch upOn a number of intraday time frames, futures flows continue to be mixed to negative. It is crucial that they diverge. While derivatives traders remain cautious, hedge spot buyers are filling the void. In the past, that configuration has favored upside grinding over explosive vertical moves. FOMO is not the issue, accumulation pressure is. Technically, after basing the price is trying to recover its short- and mid-term moving averages.

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The momentum indicators are not rising from overheated levels but rather from neutral territory. That implies that if spot demand continues, there is potential for continuation. Between the mid-$90,000 zone and the psychological $100,000 level, there is still significant overhead resistance. There is a lot of trapped supply and previous distribution in that area. Is $100,000 next?

It is a possibility, but it is not a given. Macro resistance cannot be overcome by a single spot-flow spike. Follow-through — repeated spot inflows, falling exchange balances and controlled futures — is what counts. Bitcoin may grind higher and force shorts to cover into strength if spot continues to absorb supply while leverage remains muted.

The price will stall and return to range if this spike is a one-time transfer or short-term arbitrage. This is why it is crucial to view this as confirmation rather than a signal to pursue.

This company's stock was recently priced at $660 per share, so a stock split wouldn't be surprising.

Investors tend to get excited about stock splits -- unnecessarily so, though, because a stock split is much less of a big deal than many people realize. Still, if you're wondering which next stock split could make you rich, I offer this possibility: Meta Platforms (META 1.47%), parent company of Facebook -- plus Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

It has grown into a $1.7 trillion social media juggernaut, and its future remains promising, in part due to its hefty investments in artificial intelligence (AI). And better still, while lots of major tech companies are investing heavily in AI, Meta Platforms is already deriving a lot of revenue from it -- much more than OpenAI's ChatGPT, even.

Image source: Getty Images.

Meta Platforms has averaged annual gains of 77% over the past three years (and 20% over the past decade), and despite that, its stock still seems appealingly valued. Its recent forward-looking price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio was only 20, which is rather low for a growth stock that's still growing briskly. In its third quarter, for instance, Meta posted year-over-year revenue growth of 26% and an 18% rise in income from operations.

Today's Change

(

-1.47

%) $

-9.68

Current Price

$

650.41

Meta Platforms is also a dividend-paying stock, with a recent dividend yield of 0.3%. That's not a lot, but its rapid growth and great profitability suggest that it could up its payout significantly in the years to come.

The reasons above are why you should consider an investment in Meta Platforms. Don't give a possible stock split much thought. Remember that while a stock split will increase the number of shares you own, it will also reduce the value of each share proportionately. So if you owned 10 shares of Meta Platforms at its recent share price of $660, that would be worth $6,600. If it split, say, 2 for 1, you'd own 20 shares, valued at around $330 each, for a total value of $6,600. Focus on the company, not the stock price.

Selena Maranjian has positions in Meta Platforms. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Meta Platforms. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

HomeETFs and Funds AnalysisClosed End Funds Analysis

SummaryBTO is not an income fund despite its 7%+ yield; it is a capital-cycle strategy that distributes realized gains from regional bank equities.
The portfolio is almost entirely regional and community banks, with small position sizes and active rotation designed to monetize valuation dispersion and M&A events.
Distributions are funded primarily by capital gains, not net investment income, making NAV growth and realization activity the key sustainability drivers.
Pgiam/iStock via Getty Images

John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund (BTO), a closed-end fund launched in 1994, offers a strong yield, but is not a traditional income fund. Rather, it is designed as a total-return fund with its entire exposure on regional and

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

If you purchased or acquired securities: (a) the common stock of Primo Water between June 17, 2024 through November 8, 2024, inclusive, and/or (b) the common stock of Primo Brands between November 11, 2024 through November 6, 2025, inclusive (collectively, the "Class Period") and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

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New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - January 4, 2026) - Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Primo Brands Corporation ("Primo Brands" or the "Company") (NYSE: PRMB) and reminds investors of the January 12, 2026 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.

Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com.

As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that the merger between Primo Water and BlueTriton Brands, including facts regarding the progress of the merger integration. Defendants issued a series of materially false and misleading statements that led investors to believe the merger would accelerate growth, generate transformative operational efficiencies, achieve meaningful synergies, and deliver strong financial results, and that the merger integration was proceeding "flawlessly."

Investors began to uncover problems at Primo Brands on August 7, 2025, when the company reported its Q2 2025 earnings and disclosed that its merger had caused disruptions in product supply, delivery, and service. Following this revelation, the company's stock price fell $2.41 or about 9%, dropping from $26.41 on August 6, 2025 to $24.00 on August 7, 2025.

The full extent of the issues became apparent on November 6, 2025, when Primo Brands sharply reduced its full-year 2025 net sales and adjusted EBITDA guidance and announced the replacement of CEO Rietbroek. During a conference call that day, new CEO Eric Foss acknowledged that the company had moved "too far too fast" with integration efforts, leading to warehouse closures, route realignment problems, customer service issues, and technology-related integration failures.

After this disclosure, the stock dropped $8.20 or 36% over the next two trading sessions, falling from $22.66 on November 5, 2025 to $14.46 on November 7, 2025.

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

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

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

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook.

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

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/279291

Source: Faruqi & Faruqi LLP

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

If you purchased or acquired securities in Klarna pursuant and/or traceable to the registration statement and related prospectus (collectively, the "Registration Statement") issued in connection with Klarna's September 2025 initial public offering (the "IPO") and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

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New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - January 4, 2026) - Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Klarna Group plc ("Klarna" or the "Company") (NYSE: KLAR) and reminds investors of the February 20, 2026 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.

Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com.

As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (1) Defendants materially understated the risk that its loss reserves would materially go up within a few months of the IPO, which they either knew of or should have known of given the risk profile of many individuals agreeing to Klarna's buy now, pay later ("BNPL") loans; and (2); as a result, defendants' public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times and negligently prepared. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

On November 18, 2025, Yahoo! Finance posted an article entitled "Klarna Revenue Surges Yet Longer Loans Trigger Provisions" on its website. The article, originally published on Bloomberg, stated that Klarna "reported record revenue that beat estimates for its third quarter, while setting aside more provisions for credit losses, in its first set of earnings since going public."

The article stated that Klarna "posted a net loss of $95 million, as the firm set aside more money for potentially souring loans. The company said provisions represented 0.72% of gross merchandise volume, up from 0.44% a year ago. Provisions for loan losses came in at $235 million, above analyst estimates of $215.8 million."

On this news, Klarna stock fell 9.3% on November 18, 2025.

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

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

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

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook.

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

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/279293

Source: Faruqi & Faruqi LLP

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Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.

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