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Evernorth CEO Ashish Birla said the firm is preparing for a Q1 2026 IPO on Nasdaq, pitching the listing as a simplified, public-markets route for institutions to gain exposure to XRP without building the custody, compliance, and security stack themselves.

Speaking on Nasdaq’s Live from MarketSite on Jan. 15 with host Kristina Ayanian, Birla framed the planned offering as a response to what he described as growing institutional readiness and a shifting regulatory backdrop. Ayanian said: “Evernorth is gearing up for a Q1 2026 IPO.”

Birla responded: “I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time. I’ve been in blockchain since 2013,” Birla said. “The timing couldn’t be more perfect. We have the right kind of regulation. We have the right kind of administration and institutions are ready to adopt.”

XRP Gets A Wall Street Wrapper

At the center of Evernorth’s pitch is the XRP treasury strategy, which Birla described as “the digital asset underpinning Evernorth’s digital asset treasury.” In Birla’s telling, Evernorth’s equity is meant to function as an exposure vehicle for investors who prefer traditional market rails over direct token custody.

“Prior to Evernorth … you would have to go in, you know, custody digital assets on your own. You would have to worry about compliance. You’d have to worry about security,” he said. “But a large lion’s share just wants to buy a public stock. So we made it as easy as buying a public stock. And we’ll figure that stuff out for you.”

Birla also suggested Evernorth intends to brand that exposure explicitly through its stock identity, referring to “XRPN as the Evernorth stock,” and repeating that the proposition is to “just buy the stock … and we’ll take care of all that heavy lifting for you.” For investors, the value proposition is less about novel financial engineering than operational outsourcing: Evernorth claims it can package custody, compliance, and blockchain participation behind a public equity wrapper.

The executive tied the timing of Evernorth’s public-market push to what he described as rising demand for regulated exposure. Asked about “XRP ETFs … making a big splash,” Birla said the category had seen “a record breaking last few weeks,” arguing that it signaled appetite from traditional investors. “That shows that there is the demand from the public markets to gain exposure to XRP,” he said, adding that Evernorth intends to go beyond simple spot exposure by supporting the broader ecosystem.

That “beyond” hinges on yield generation and active treasury management. Birla said Evernorth expects to “be generating yield as well on the XRP asset,” and that the proceeds would be recycled into the treasury: “We’ll use [it] to go and buy more of the digital asset for the treasury. So we’ll be actively out there.” He positioned the company as an active participant in product development on-chain, saying Evernorth will “help develop that XRP ecosystem, help bring financial products to the blockchain.”

Pressed on what separates durable “digital asset treasury” strategies from the rest, Birla emphasized scale and activity. “One, you have to have scale. And Evernorth as of today is by far the largest XRP digital asset treasury out there,” he said. The second criterion, he argued, is avoiding a purely passive posture. “They can’t be passive. They have to be active stewards of helping the ecosystem flourish and develop,” Birla said, adding that he plans to continue “helping the XRP ecosystem develop” and that Evernorth could “generate yield for the for the treasury as well.”

Big move for XRP! @evernorthxrp CEO @ashgoblue on @NasdaqExchange sharing details on their Q1 2026 IPO – unlocking institutional XRP exposure like buying any public stock. No more custody hassles, just seamless access to XRP. https://t.co/Z7F4uTyH5g

— Leonidas (@LeoHadjiloizou) January 15, 2026

For prospective institutional buyers and public-market investors, the message was blunt: the company sees the last missing piece as capital access, and it is building a listed vehicle around it. “You’ve got regulation, you’ve got the products, and now you’ve got institutional capital,” Birla said. “I think timing is right to adopt blockchain for financial products.”

At press time, XRP traded at $2.07.

Despite a surprising postponement of the markup for the crypto market structure bill known as the CLARITY Act, lawmakers are maintaining a hopeful outlook for the passage of the legislation. 

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott announced the delay on Wednesday, stating that bipartisan negotiations are ongoing. He characterized the pause as tactical rather than indicative of failure. 

Coinbase CEO Voices Alarm Over CLARITY Act’s Potential Impact

In a message on social media platform X (previously Twitter), Scott expressed confidence, noting, “I’ve spoken with leaders across the crypto industry, the financial sector, and my Democratic and Republican colleagues, and everyone remains at the table working in good faith.” 

In an interview with Fox News prior to the cancellation of the markup, Scott noted that the Republican Party has made significant efforts to incorporate bipartisan support into the legislation. 

“We’ve taken over 90 of the Democrats’ priorities and filtered them,” he explained. Scott highlighted key issues, such as anti-money laundering (AML) measures, which are important to both parties, aligning on national security concerns.

However, the momentum faced a setback when Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong withdrew the company’s support for the CLARITY Act in its current form. 

Armstrong raised concerns that the bill could prohibit tokenized equities, impose restrictions on decentralized finance (DeFi), and expand government access to financial data at the expense of individual privacy. 

The executive also cautioned that the legislation could shift power from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and eliminate stablecoin rewards, potentially sidelining crypto competition.

Crypto Czar Urges Industry To Resolve Differences

Following the postponement of the vote, White House crypto czar David Sacks urged the industry to use this delay to address any remaining disagreements. “Passage of market structure legislation remains as close as it’s ever been,” Sacks stated on X.

The Trump administration continues to express a commitment to collaborating with Scott, the Senate Banking Committee, and industry stakeholders to advance bipartisan crypto legislation as swiftly as possible. 

Although the specifics of the bill are still under negotiation, there is widespread consensus among both asset managers and experts that federal intervention is crucial not only for the growth of cryptocurrency but also for consumer protection.

Kyle Wool, CEO of Dominari Securities, shared his perspective, stating, “As newer, more fringe industries grow and capital increases, there will be a greater need for oversight from regulators.” 

He outlined that proper regulations should not stifle innovation but instead ensure that markets remain fair, honest, and efficient for all investors. Wool added that such measures would also make the crypto market accessible to a broader audience, enhancing liquidity and depth. 

Pro-crypto Senator Cynthia Lummis, who has been an advocate for the growth and development of the digital asset industry, asserted that lawmakers are now “closer than ever,” with ongoing negotiations leaning toward a bipartisan agreement. 

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com 

К 2030 году курс биткоина может достичь $710 000, а при устойчивом бычьем тренде даже превысить $1,5 млн, заявил аналитик инвестиционной компании Ark Invest Дэвид Пуэлл (David Puell).

Сенатор штата Западная Вирджиния Крис Роуз (Chris Rose) внес в местный парламент законопроект, который откроет казначейству штата доступ к инвестициям в драгоценные металлы, отдельные цифровые активы и криптовалюту. Документ получил название Inflation Protection Act («Закон о защите от инфляции»).

Ethereum treasury company Bitmine has announced a $200 million investment into Beast Industries, owned by popular creator MrBeast.

Bitmine Is Making An Investment In MrBeast-Owned Firm

As revealed in a press release, Bitmine Immersion Technologies is investing $200 million into Beast Industries in a deal that’s expected to close on or around January 19th.

Originally a cryptocurrency mining-focused company, Bitmine pivoted into being an Ethereum treasury company in mid-2025. Since then, the firm has aggressively accumulated ETH and established itself as the second largest digital asset treasury in the world behind Strategy.

Now, it seems Bitmine is looking to diversify with the Beast Industries move. Beast Industries is an entertainment company founded and led by Jimmy Donaldson, the personality behind MrBeast.

MrBeast is the most subscribed channel on YouTube with more than 460 million subscribers. “MrBeast and Beast Industries, in our view, is the leading content creator of our generation, with a reach and engagement unmatched with GenZ, GenAlpha and Millennials,” said Thomas ‘Tom’ Lee, Bitmine Chairman.

In December, Beast Industries revealed a new financial services platform. Now, with the Bitmine investment, Jeff Housenbold, Beast Industries CEO, has hinted at a collaboration with Bitmine for the platform.

Housenbold noted:

Their support is a strong validation of our vision, strategy, and growth trajectory and it provides additional capital to achieve our goal to become the most impactful entertainment brand in the world. We look forward to exploring ways to further collaborate and incorporate DeFi into our upcoming financial services platform.

Bitmine has set a long-term goal of acquiring 5% of the Ethereum supply for its treasury. According to a Monday press release, the company’s holdings have grown to around 4.17 million ETH, equivalent to 3.45% of the cryptocurrency’s total supply in circulation.

Thus, the firm is still some ways from its 5% target, but considering that it only started accumulating ETH half a year ago, its progress is significant. Bitmine’s momentum could, however, soon face a structural obstacle.

Bitmine currently has a 500 million share authorization and the company is looking to increase the cap via a shareholder vote. “Bitmine charter has an unusual feature requiring 50.1% of all shares outstanding to support a share increase,” said Lee. “This is an extremely high bar and thus, makes it very difficult to get an authorized share increase.”

The proposal will be discussed at the firm’s annual stock meeting, scheduled for January 15th, with the remaining votes tied to in-person participation after remote voting channels were closed earlier this week.

Ethereum Price

Ethereum has witnessed a notable jump over the last week as its price has surged nearly 7% to the $3,300 level.

Три члена Палаты представителей Конгресса США, принадлежащие к Демократической партии: Максин Уотерс (Maxine Waters), Брэд Шерман (Brad Sherman) и Шон Кастен (Sean Casten) раскритиковали Комиссию по ценным бумагам и биржам США (SEC) за прекращение судебных преследований криптокомпаний.

Полиция Свердловской области пресекла работу незаконных ферм для майнинга, причинивших ущерб крупной энергетической компании на 16 млн рублей, сообщила официальный представитель МВД России Ирина Волк.

financial technology company, LMAX Group, announced a significant partnership with blockchain payment leader Ripple on Thursday, backed by a $150 million investment from the crypto firm, aimed at incorporating its RLUSD stablecoin into LMAX’s payment infrastructure.

New Trading Solutions With Ripple’s Stablecoin

The integration of RLUSD will serve as a foundational collateral asset within LMAX’s institutional trading framework, as stated in the press release on the matter. 

This will allow LMAX’s global clientele—banks, brokers, and buy-side institutions—to utilize Ripple’s RLUSD for improved cross-collateralization and margin efficiency across various trading types, such as spot cryptocurrencies, perpetual futures, and contracts for difference (CFDs).

David Mercer, the Chief Executive Officer of LMAX Group, emphasized the importance of this partnership, stating: 

Partnering with a leader like Ripple is a milestone for LMAX, reflecting confidence and momentum in our cross-asset growth strategy. With the benefit of greater U.S. and global regulatory clarity, fiat-backed stablecoins will be a key catalyst in driving the convergence of traditional finance (TradFi) and digital assets, and we firmly believe that RLUSD is positioned at the forefront. 

He expressed enthusiasm about working with Ripple’s leadership team to develop “a modern financial ecosystem” and a comprehensive cross-asset marketplace for institutions worldwide.

3 Major Focus Areas For LMAX Group With RLUSD

The integration of RLUSD offers several advantages for LMAX Group clients. Enhanced liquidity is one benefit, as RLUSD will function both as collateral and a settlement currency for spot crypto trading and fiat transactions. 

Additionally, clients will have the opportunity to use RLUSD as margin funding for perpetual futures and contracts for difference trading, thereby improving margin efficiency.

Security will also be a priority, with RLUSD holdings being accessible through LMAX Custody. This will utilize segregated wallets to ensure both fungibility and transferability across traditional finance and digital assets. 

Furthermore, the LMAX Kiosk feature will facilitate institutional on-ramps, allowing clients to engage in trading multiple foreign exchange and digital products using RLUSD as collateral. This will enable 24/7 access to cross-asset markets.

Jack McDonald, Senior Vice President of Stablecoins at Ripple, commented on the recent partnership with LMAX Group, noting: 

This partnership will accelerate the utilization of RLUSD—already a top five USD-backed stablecoin—within one of the largest and most sophisticated trading environments.

This collaboration is further strengthened by the integration of LMAX’s digital asset exchange with Ripple Prime. This combination is expected to provide institutions with a streamlined gateway to trade digital assets while effectively managing market fragmentation and counterparty risk.

At the time of writing, the associated Ripple token, XRP, is trading at $2.09, having retraced by almost 3% in the past 24 hours. 

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com

Глава исследовательского отдела компании Global Macro Investor Жюльен Биттел (Julien Bittel) заявил, что возник разрыв между притоком денег и тем, как на это реагируют разные активы. Если фондовый рынок ведет себя логично, то биткоин буквально «выпал» из общей картины.

Американский застройщик Megatel Homes объявил о запуске платформы вознаграждений MegPrime, использующей токены. Компания получила на это разрешение от Комиссии по ценным бумагам и биржам США (SEC).

Разработчики криптокошелька Lemon объявили о запуске в Аргентине кредитной карты, с помощью которой ее владельцы могут получить фиатную валюту под залог биткоинов.

The CEO of Bank of America has warned that trillions of dollars could flee from bank deposits to the stablecoin sector if the upcoming crypto market structure bill allows interest payments on the tokens.

Banking System Could Face $6 Trillion Problem

On Wednesday, Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan told investors that the banking industry could face significant challenges if the US Congress does not prohibit interest-bearing stablecoins.

During its Q4 earnings call, the executive affirmed that up to $6 trillion in deposits, around 30% to 35% of all US commercial bank deposits, could flow out of the banking system and into the stablecoin sector, citing Treasury Department studies.

The banking sector has heavily criticized the US’s landmark stablecoin legislation, the GENIUS Act, for months, claiming that it has loopholes that could pose risks to the financial system. Notably, the crypto framework prohibits interest payments on the holding or use of payment-purpose stablecoins but only addresses issuers.

Multiple banking associations across the US sent a joint letter to the Senate Banking Committee urging Congress to amend the law to include digital asset exchanges, brokers, dealers, and related entities.

According to the call’s transcript, Moynihan compared the digital assets to money market mutual funds, which require reserves to be held in short-term instruments, such as US Treasuries, thereby reducing lending capacity in the system.

That is the bigger concern that we’ve all expressed to Congress as they think about this, if you move it outside the system, you’ll reduce the lending capacity of banks. (…) And if you take out deposits, (…) they’re either not going to be able to loan or they’re going to have to get wholesale funding and that wholesale funding will come at a cost that will increase the cost of borrowing.

The CEO asserted that Bank of America would not be affected by this issue, as the institution would be able to “meet customer demand, whatever may surface.” However, he noted that it would particularly hurt small- and medium-sized businesses, as they’re “largely lent to end consumers by the banking industry.”

Stablecoin Rewards Debate Intensifies

Moynihan’s remarks come amid the Senate’s struggles with the long-awaited market structure bill. The recently shared draft, which was scheduled for a markup today, has raised concerns among crypto industry leaders, who have outlined multiple problems with the bill.

Coinbase’s CEO, Brian Armstrong, took to X to share his disappointment with the legislation, affirming that “this version would be materially worse than the current status quo. We’d rather have no bill than a bad bill.”

He affirmed that, after reviewing the bill’s draft, Coinbase could not support it in its current state, arguing that there were “too many issues.” Among the problems, he noted the de facto ban on tokenized equities, crucial DeFi prohibitions, the “erosion” of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)’s authority, and the policies regarding the payment of interests on stablecoins.

As reported by Bitcoinist, this version of the market structure bill introduced key restrictions for stablecoin issuers. Under the proposed changes, issuers would be able to offer rewards for specific actions, such as account openings and cashback.

However, they are prohibited from offering interest payments to passive token holders. To Armstrong, this “would kill rewards on stablecoins,” and allow banks to “ban their competition.”

Amid the intensified backlash, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott announced on Wednesday that the bill’s markup had been postponed to “deliver clear rules of the road that protect consumers, strengthen our national security, and ensure the future of finance is built in the United States.”

Национальное собрание Южной Кореи на пленарном заседании одобрило поправки к двум законам — о рынках капитала и об электронных ценных бумагах. Эти изменения создают правовую основу для выпуска и торговли токенизированными ценными бумагами с использованием блокчейна.

Республика Молдова, претендующая на членство в Евросоюзе, планирует принять закон, регулирующий инвестиции, торговлю и конвертацию криптовалют, чтобы соблюсти Регламент регулирования криптовалют в ЕС (MiCA).

BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes said that Bitcoin may climb to fresh records if US monetary conditions loosen next year. He pointed to several possible triggers for a large increase in dollar liquidity in 2026, while also linking recent market moves to where capital flowed in 2025.

Hayes Links Bitcoin To Dollar Liquidity

According to Hayes, the key for Bitcoin is the amount of money sloshing through the system. He mentioned the US Federal Reserve’s balance sheet expanding through what he called more aggressive money creation, mortgage rates falling as lenders loosen, and commercial banks stepping up loans to industries backed by government strategy.

Bitcoin fell 15% in 2025 while gold jumped 44%. Technology stocks led the S&P 500 with a total return of 25%, against the S&P’s overall 18% return. Those figures, Hayes argued, show that last year was a story about where liquidity landed, not about crypto losing its basic case.

Government Support Sends Tech Higher

Hayes also highlighted how governments have shifted capital into certain tech projects. He suggested that both China and the US used executive actions and public funds to push money into artificial intelligence work, saying this has helped tech firms attract big flows regardless of immediate return on equity.

He named US President Donald Trump when pointing to policy moves that favor AI investment. That dynamic, he said, helped explain why the Nasdaq performed strongly even as Bitcoin slumped.

Policy And Military Spending Matter

He added a more pointed claim about military spending. Hayes said the US will keep using its military might and that such efforts require large-scale production financed through the banking system.

That, in his view, can add to broader liquidity if the banking sector starts funding big government-backed projects. Reports have disclosed that Hayes believes these forces could force dollar liquidity higher in 2026, creating fertile ground for risk assets — including Bitcoin.

Inflation Data Pushed Crypto Higher This Week

Markets reacted when the latest US inflation figures came in cooler than expected. Bitcoin inched close to $97,000 and rose more than 5% in 24 hours. Ethereum, Solana, and Cardano each posted gains near 8% in the same span.

Bond yields fell and the dollar weakened, which left cash looking for a new home. That pattern is familiar: softer inflation tends to lower borrowing costs and makes investors more willing to take risk.

A Bull Case With Conditions

Based on Hayes’ logic, Bitcoin’s upside depends on ongoing fiat debasement. He frames Bitcoin as monetary technology whose value rises when fiat is weakened. That view is coherent but conditional. If central banks choose to stay tight, or if inflation flares and forces a policy shift, Hayes’ scenario may not unfold. For the time being, his forecast is a liquidity story — one that will be tested by policy choices in 2026.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

По данным компании Chainalysis, использование криптовалют в Иране резко выросло в связи с массовыми протестами. Иранцы покупают значительное количество BTC, чтобы сохранить свои средства в условиях нестабильности.

В декабре 2025 года в мессенджере Telegram появилась новая функция ― бот Emoji Stake, позволяющий играть в кости на криптовалюту TON. Видя интерес пользователей, мошенники начали активно создавать каналы с похожими именами. Об этом сообщило издание «Известия» со ссылкой на специалистов по кибербезопасности.

Ethereum has reclaimed the $3,300 level after weeks of choppy and uncertain price action, offering bulls a brief sense of relief. However, upside momentum remains fragile, as buyers continue to struggle against the $3,400 zone, a level that has repeatedly capped recent advances. This area now stands as a clear short-term inflection point, separating a potential recovery phase from what some analysts still describe as a broader bearish structure.

Market participants remain divided. On one side, skeptics argue that the latest rebound resembles a classic relief rally, driven by short covering and temporary sentiment improvement rather than a genuine shift in trend.

From this perspective, Ethereum may still be vulnerable to renewed downside if macro conditions tighten or risk appetite fades. On the other side, more constructive analysts believe the stabilization above $3,300 could mark the early stages of a recovery, with higher levels coming into focus if resistance is convincingly reclaimed.

Adding complexity to the narrative, on-chain developments continue to draw attention. Just a few hours ago, Bitmine staked an additional 154,304 ETH, worth roughly $514 million, signaling sustained confidence from large players despite market uncertainty. As price compresses below resistance, Ethereum now sits at a critical juncture where conviction from both bulls and bears is being tested.

Bitmine’s Growing Staking Footprint Signals Long-Term Conviction

According to data reported by Lookonchain, Bitmine’s Ethereum exposure has reached a notable scale. In total, the firm has now staked approximately 1,685,088 ETH, valued at around $5.62 billion at current prices. This places Bitmine among the largest single staking participants in the Ethereum ecosystem, underscoring the growing role of institutional and quasi-institutional actors in securing the network.

What makes this positioning particularly relevant is Bitmine’s overall balance. The company reportedly holds about 2.133 million ETH in total, meaning that close to 80% of its Ether reserves are actively staked rather than sitting idle. This allocation suggests a long-term, yield-oriented strategy rather than a short-term trading approach. By committing such a large portion of its holdings to staking, Bitmine is effectively signaling confidence in Ethereum’s medium- to long-term outlook, despite ongoing price volatility and macro uncertainty.

From a market perspective, large-scale staking reduces the amount of ETH that is readily liquid and available for sale. While this does not eliminate selling pressure entirely, it can contribute to a tighter circulating supply during periods of demand recovery.

At the same time, concentrated staking activity highlights how network security and yield generation are increasingly influenced by large holders. As Ethereum trades near key resistance levels, Bitmine’s positioning reinforces the narrative that some major players remain structurally committed, even as short-term price direction remains contested.

Ethereum Tests Key Weekly Resistance

Ethereum’s price action on the weekly chart shows a market attempting to stabilize after a volatile multi-year cycle. ETH has reclaimed the $3,300 area and is now trading just below a clearly defined resistance zone near $3,400. This level has repeatedly capped upside during prior rallies, making it a critical area for bulls to reclaim with conviction.

From a trend perspective, Ethereum remains above its long-term moving averages, including the 200-week line, which continues to slope upward. This suggests that despite recent drawdowns, the broader structural uptrend has not been invalidated. However, price is still trading below the previous cycle highs near $4,200–$4,400, highlighting that ETH is in a recovery phase rather than a confirmed breakout.

Momentum has improved compared to late 2025, with higher lows forming after the sharp sell-off toward the $1,600–$1,800 region. Volume during the rebound has been moderate, signaling participation without clear signs of speculative excess. This supports the idea of controlled accumulation rather than euphoric chasing.

Still, the inability to cleanly break above $3,400 keeps downside risk relevant. A rejection here could lead to renewed consolidation toward the $2,800–$3,000 zone. For bullish continuation, ETH needs a sustained weekly close above resistance, which would shift market structure and open the path toward higher liquidity zones above $3,800.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com 

Data shows the Bitcoin Coinbase Premium Gap has turned positive, a sign that American whales have been buying alongside the price surge.

Bitcoin Coinbase Premium Gap Has Surged Recently

As pointed out by CryptoQuant author IT Tech in an X post, the Coinbase Premium Gap has observed a shift as BTC’s latest price rally has occurred. The “Coinbase Premium Gap” measures the difference between the Bitcoin price listed on Coinbase (USD pair) and that on Binance (USDT pair).

This indicator is useful for knowing how the userbases of the two cryptocurrency exchanges differ when it comes to BTC buying/selling behavior. There is some overlap in the traffic of these platforms, but Coinbase, being the preferred exchange of US-based investors, particularly large institutional entities, gives movements on it a distinct character from Binance’s globally distributed userbase.

Now, here is the chart shared by IT Tech that shows the trend in the Bitcoin Coinbase Premium Gap over the past month:

As displayed in the above graph, the Bitcoin Coinbase Premium Gap has mostly been inside the negative territory during the last few weeks, indicating that the cryptocurrency has been trading at a lower price on Coinbase compared to Binance. In other words, the American whales have potentially been applying a larger amount of selling pressure or a lower amount of buying pressure than Binance users.

BTC has witnessed a recovery rally during the past few days, and initially, the Coinbase Premium Gap remained inside the red zone, but with the latest leg to $97,000, a shift has occurred. With the indicator now inside the green zone, it would appear possible that the US institutional investors have resumed accumulation of Bitcoin after a near-consistent phase of selling over the past month.

For now, though, the surge into the positive region is still brief, so it only remains to be seen whether the American investors will continue to back the bullish price action in the coming days. Earlier this month, a similar trend developed when Bitcoin saw a rally above $94,000. The Coinbase Premium Gap took a green shade late in that surge, but what followed was a plunge back into the negative zone and a fizzling out for the price rally.

In some other news, the BTC price surge has resulted in a significant amount of short liquidations in the futures market, as analytics firm Glassnode has highlighted in its latest weekly report.

From the chart, it’s visible that Bitcoin short liquidations saw a sharp peak nearing $90 million when BTC first pushed into the $96,000 region during this rally.

BTC Price

At the time of writing, Bitcoin is floating around $96,500, up nearly 8% in the last seven days.

Bitcoin has pushed above the $97,000 level for the first time since early November, reviving optimism across the market after weeks of uncertainty. The move comes after a prolonged consolidation phase, during which bearish narratives gained traction, and several analysts openly discussed the possibility of a broader trend reversal.

The recent breakout has challenged those views, at least in the short term, and reopened the debate around whether Bitcoin is attempting to reestablish bullish momentum or simply staging a temporary recovery.

According to analyst Darkfost, the current advance still shows characteristics of a technical rebound rather than a fully confirmed trend shift. Short-term holders (STHs), in particular, remain highly reactive to price movements and market volatility.

After enduring the recent correction, many of these participants appear focused on capital preservation rather than conviction-based positioning. As prices recover toward key levels, some STHs are already using the rebound as an opportunity to lock in profits.

This behavior suggests that confidence among shorter-horizon investors has not yet been fully restored. While the move above $97,000 improves market structure and sentiment, it also introduces nearby supply as profit-taking intensifies.

Short-Term Holders Prioritize Capital Preservation Near Key Levels

The analysis adds that as Bitcoin continues to advance, short-term holders are increasingly shifting their focus toward capital preservation. With the realized price for this cohort currently sitting near $102,000, the recent rebound places the price closer to their average cost basis, a zone that historically encourages defensive behavior rather than aggressive accumulation. Instead of positioning for extended upside, many short-term participants appear inclined to reduce exposure as risk becomes more balanced.

This dynamic was clearly visible on January 6, when Bitcoin revisited the $94,000 level for the first time since mid-November. As the price reached that threshold, short-term holders sent more than 30,000 BTC in realized profit to exchanges, signaling a willingness to exit positions during the rebound.

The pattern intensified further during the latest push higher. As Bitcoin broke above $97,000, on-chain data shows that over 40,000 BTC in profits were transferred to exchanges in a single day.

Such behavior highlights the lingering impact of the recent correction on short-term sentiment. Many STHs remain cautious and appear reluctant to hold through uncertainty after previously experiencing drawdowns.

For confidence to rebuild, Bitcoin likely needs additional upside and sustained price acceptance above key levels. Without a meaningful expansion in unrealized profits, short-term holders may continue to sell into strength, limiting momentum until stronger confirmation reshapes their risk appetite.

Bitcoin Rebounds Toward Key Resistance

Bitcoin’s price action on the 3-day chart shows a constructive rebound, but the broader structure remains mixed. After finding a local bottom in December near the mid-$80,000s, BTC has carved out a series of higher lows, signaling short-term recovery momentum. The recent push toward the $96,000–$97,000 area marks a meaningful advance, placing the price back above the short-term moving average and near a key former support-turned-resistance zone.

However, the larger trend still reflects consolidation rather than a confirmed trend reversal. Price remains below the declining medium-term moving average, which has acted as dynamic resistance since the breakdown in November. This suggests that, while buyers have regained some control, sellers continue to defend higher levels aggressively.

The long-term moving average is still rising and well below the current price, indicating that the broader macro trend has not fully deteriorated.

Volume dynamics also support a cautious interpretation. The rebound has not been accompanied by sustained expansion in volume, implying that conviction remains limited and that the move may still be corrective in nature. From a structural perspective, BTC is attempting to rebuild acceptance above the $92,000–$94,000 range, which previously acted as a key distribution zone.

In the near term, holding above this reclaimed area would strengthen the bullish case and open the door for a retest of the $100,000 region. Failure to consolidate, however, could expose the market to renewed downside pressure toward the lower consolidation range.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com