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House of Doge, the corporate arm of the Dogecoin Foundation, says it has struck a partnership framework with two Japan-focused firms to explore localized Dogecoin adoption and real-world asset (RWA) initiatives, putting Japan at the center of its next ecosystem expansion effort.

Dogecoin Plots Japan Expansion

In a Thursday press release dated Jan. 8, House of Doge said it has agreed a tripartite cooperation framework with abc Co., Ltd. and ReYuu Japan Inc. The arrangement is framed as a roadmap for “future collaboration,” rather than a single product launch, but it spells out several lines of work that point toward regulated tokenization and payments-style integrations tailored to the Japanese market.

“This partnership reflects our continued focus on supporting thoughtful, real-world expansion of the Dogecoin ecosystem,” Marco Margiotta, CEO of House of Doge, said in the release. “Japan represents a natural and culturally aligned market for DOGE given its strong embrace of digital innovation and we are pleased to explore opportunities alongside abc and ReYuu Japan that support responsible innovation, real-world utility, and long-term ecosystem growth.”

House of Doge said the agreement outlines potential cooperation areas designed to “leverage the strengths of each party” in support of  ecosystem growth. The framework highlights efforts around promoting and adopting gold asset-backed stablecoins, as well as regulatory-oriented work connected to listing RWA tokens under Japan’s “green list” framework. It also references establishing a joint fund within the Dogecoin ecosystem and pushing “next-generation Web3” through real-world use cases.

The inclusion of a “green list” pathway is notable because it foregrounds compliance and market-structure considerations rather than the meme-driven branding that has historically defined DOGE in the public imagination. At the same time, the release does not specify which assets would be tokenized, what a gold-backed stablecoin would look like in practice, or whether any on-chain issuance would be directly tied to Dogecoin versus adjacent infrastructure.

The partners are positioned as complementary: ReYuu Japan is described as supporting business development and localization in Japan, while abc is presented as bringing “token-economy design, smart-contract development, and regulatory alignment,” with a focus on RWA and compliant Web3 integration. House of Doge’s role is framed as ecosystem coordination and infrastructure investment, with the press release casting the partnership as part of a broader international strategy.

Together, the companies say they intend to support “localized and responsible” expansion of Dogecoin-related initiatives in Japan, though the release stops short of naming specific merchants, financial institutions, pilot programs, or timelines.

House of Doge used the announcement to reinforce its broader narrative: that Dogecoin’s next phase is about practical utility; payments, financial products, and tokenization rather than purely cultural relevance. “House of Doge is the official corporate arm of the Dogecoin Foundation, committed to advancing Dogecoin as a widely accepted and decentralized global currency. By investing in the necessary infrastructure to integrate Dogecoin into everyday commerce, House of Doge is building secure, scalable, and efficient systems for real-world use.”

It adds that its scope spans “payments and financial products to real-world asset tokenization and cultural partnerships,” arguing this is “the next era of crypto utility, where Dogecoin goes beyond the meme.”

At press time, DOGE traded at $0.14276.

Команда разработчиков конфиденциальной криптовалюты Zcash объявила о работе над новым кошельком менее чем через сутки после громкого ухода всей команды Electric Coin Company (ECC) из Bootstrap.

A report from on-chain analytics firm Glassnode has revealed how Bitcoin profit realization saw a reset ahead of the recent price surge.

Bitcoin Realized Profit Has Gone Down Recently

In its latest weekly report, Glassnode has talked about the latest trend in the Realized Profit of Bitcoin. This on-chain indicator measures the total amount of profit that investors on the BTC network are realizing through their transactions.

The metric works by going through the transfer history of each coin being moved or sold on the network to see what price it was transacted at prior to this. If the last transaction price of the token was less than the spot price it’s now being sold at, then the sale is considered to realize some net gain.

The exact amount of profit involved in the transfer is equal to the difference between the two prices. The Realized Profit sums up this value for all profit transactions on the blockchain.

A counterpart indicator known as the Realized Loss takes care of the sales of the opposite type. That is, the moves involving a cost basis higher than the latest transfer price.

Now, here is a chart that shows the trend in the 7-day moving average (MA) of the Bitcoin Realized Profit over the last few years:

As displayed in the above graph, the 7-day average Bitcoin Realized Profit was above the $1 billion level for much of the fourth quarter of 2025, with a particularly large spike of nearly $3 billion coming in November that coincided with the cryptocurrency’s bottom.

In December, however, the metric saw a sharp decline to a value of just $183.8 million. “This deceleration in realized gains, particularly among longer-term holders, signalled an exhaustion of distribution-side pressure that had been anchoring price action in the prior quarter,” noted Glassnode.

What followed this cooldown in profit-taking was BTC’s climb above $94,000 during the first week of 2026. “As sell-side intensity eased, the market was able to stabilize, regain composure, and support a renewed upside impulse,” said the analytics firm.

The Realized Profit and Realized Loss deal with the profit/loss being realized by the investors, but what about the unrealized profits or losses? An indicator called the Market Value to Realized Value (MVRV) Ratio contains the information related to that.

In the report, Glassnode has specifically discussed about this indicator for the short-term holders (STHs), representing the low-conviction side of the market (holding time of 155 days or less).

From the chart, it’s visible that the Bitcoin STH MVRV has been below the 1 level recently, implying that the new market entrants have been holding a net unrealized loss.

BTC Price

Bitcoin fell under $90,000 earlier in the day, but the asset has since rebounded to $90,900.

Coinbase (COIN), the US-based cryptocurrency exchange, has recently garnered a positive forecast from Bank of America, one of Wall Street’s leading financial institutions, which has upgraded its rating to “buy.” 

This shift comes after a thorough evaluation of Coinbase’s strategic positioning, as the company prepares for a potentially successful 2026. This follows a 2025 in which major acquisitions were made to significantly expand the range of services offered beyond mere trading.

Bank Of America Upgrades Coinbase’s Prospects 

Research analyst Craig Siegenthaler from Bank of America highlighted several factors contributing to this optimistic outlook. He noted that Coinbase’s ongoing product expansion, strategic pivots, and an appealing valuation create a solid foundation for the company’s performance in the coming years. 

Siegenthaler specifically attributed the bank’s revised stance on Coinbase’s stock, COIN, to an acceleration in product velocity and a pullback in the stock price observed during the second half of 2025.

Recent market data shows that the cryptocurrency exchange’s shares have fallen approximately 40% from their peaks of $445 reached back in July of last year, making this a more attractive entry point for investors. 

The exchange is also diversifying its offerings, looking beyond cryptocurrency to include stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and prediction markets. According to Siegenthaler, this expansion brings Coinbase closer to realizing its vision of becoming the “everything exchange.”

Price Target Of $340 For COIN

A significant factor in Bank of America’s bullish assessment is the crypto firm’s Base, a Layer-2 (L2) network built on the Ethereum (ETH) blockchain. The analyst views Base as a pivotal step in Coinbase’s evolution from merely a trading platform to a comprehensive crypto infrastructure provider. 

The anticipated launch of a native token in the future could serve as a major catalyst, potentially raising billions and further enhancing the platform’s capabilities.

Another initiative that piqued Bank of America’s interest is Coinbase Tokenize. This feature integrates issuance, custody, compliance, and access to the exchange’s client base, positioning the company as a leader in the tokenization market.

From a valuation perspective, Bank of America observed that Coinbase’s price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio has significantly compressed since mid-2024, improving the stock’s risk-reward profile. 

This adjustment in valuation, coupled with a more favorable regulatory environment expected under President Donald Trump, could provide “sizable tailwinds” for the crypto firm as the industry matures.

Looking ahead, Bank of America envisions Coinbase solidifying its dominant role across trading, infrastructure, and tokenization as the next phase of cryptocurrency adoption unfolds. 

The bank has reiterated its price target of $340 for Coinbase’s stock, reflecting its confidence in the company’s long-term prospects. This suggests that the company’s stock price could potentially recover by 38% in the near-term if materializes.

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com

A Florida lawmaker is attempting to revive the state’s previous efforts to establish and manage a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR) to protect its residents against inflation and enhance economic security.

A New Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Proposal

On Wednesday, Florida House of Representatives member John Snyder introduced House Bill 1039 (HB 1039) to create and administer a state-run Strategic Cryptocurrency Reserve focused on Bitcoin (BTC).

According to the legislation, the strategic reserve would be established as “a special fund outside the State Treasury” to serve “hedge against inflation and economic volatility” and the “public purpose of providing enhanced financial security to residents of this state.”

Notably, the bill states that “to be eligible to be purchased for the reserve, a cryptocurrency must have an average market capitalization of at least $500 billion over the most recent 24-month period.” Under this condition, only Bitcoin, with its $1 trillion market capitalization, meets the requirements.

Based on this, Florida’s reserve would consist of “money transferred or deposited to the credit of the reserve by legislative appropriation, (…) Revenue that the Legislature by general law dedicates for deposit to the credit of the reserve, (…) Cryptocurrency purchased using money in or received by the reserve, (…) Investment earnings and interest or rewards earned on assets in the reserve.”

In addition, the reserve would be custodied and managed by Florida’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO), who will be able to “acquire, exchange, sell, supervise, manage or retain any kind of investments” that a prudent investor would manage, under “the purposes, terms, distribution requirements, and other circumstances then prevailing for the reserve.”

The CFO would be allowed to establish contracts with one or more third-party entities for the administration and management of the reserve, including technology providers for a secure custody solution, a qualified custodian, and liquidity providers that facilitate the purchase and sales of the reserve’s assets.

Moreover, HB 1039 would launch the “Florida Strategic Cryptocurrency Reserve Advisory Committee” within the Department of Financial Affairs. The committee would be composed of five members, including the CFO, who would serve as the chairman, and four other individuals appointed by the CFO.

Florida’s SBR Push

Representative Snyder’s proposal follows previous attempts to establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve in Florida. Over the past year, some lawmakers joined the global SBR momentum and introduced multiple bills to create and manage a state-run crypto reserve.

As reported by Bitcoinist, the Florida Blockchain Business Association (FBBA) proposed the state’s first Bitcoin Reserve at the end of 2024, seeking to allocate a small percentage of its $185.7 billion pension fund to BTC.

Samuel Armes, head of the FBBA, suggested that the state could use 1% of its pension fund, around $1.85 billion, to invest in Bitcoin as part of Florida’s push to launch a crypto-based strategic reserve.

In February 2025, Senator Joe Gruters introduced Senate Bill 550 (SB 550) to allow the state’s CFO to invest up to 10% of public funds in the flagship crypto. Similarly, Representative Webster Barnaby introduced House Bill 487 (HB 487) in April 2025 to allow Florida’s CFO and the State Board of Administration to invest up to 10% of certain state funds in Bitcoin, as a strategy to protect against inflation and enhance economic security.

Nonetheless, both bills died in the first half of the year after failing to obtain a majority vote in their respective committee hearings. Last October, Representative Barnaby filed House Bill 183 (HB 183) with a revised and “more flexible” text to revive Florida’s SBR efforts.

If HB 1039 passes the state’s Senate and House votes and is signed into law, Florida would join Arizona, New Hampshire, and Texas as the few states to have enacted a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.

World Liberty Financial (WLFI), closely associated with President Donald Trump and his son Eric, is making significant strides to align itself with major players in the cryptocurrency industry, including Ripple, and Fidelity Digital Assets. 

The company aims to secure a national trust charter in the United States, a strategic move designed to facilitate the issuance of its USD1 stablecoin, and to streamline the process for customers looking to utilize and convert the firm’s cryptocurrency.

World Liberty Financial Aims For Regulatory Approval

Zach Witkoff, proposed president and chair of World Liberty Trust Company—a subsidiary that has applied for the charter—described this initiative as a pivotal evolution of the World Liberty Financial ecosystem. 

Securing a national trust charter would enable World Liberty Financial to provide custodial banking services and gain access to national payment networks while operating under the supervision of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). 

However, this regulatory framework differs significantly from a national bank charter, which subjects a firm to stricter oversight due to its ability to offer consumer banking services.

Last year, the OCC granted conditional national trust charters to several cryptocurrency firms, allowing these companies to manage digital assets and other financial instruments without the need to obtain state-by-state approvals. 

This development was hailed as a historic move by the regulatory body and a substantial win for the digital asset sector, although it faced criticism from traditional banking institutions.

Traditional Banks Voice Concerns

World Liberty Financial is joining a growing list of digital asset businesses seeking regulatory approval, with the eventual goal of accessing “skinny” master accounts at the Federal Reserve (Fed). Such accounts would grant limited use of the Fed’s payments system, a critical asset in modern financial operations. 

Recently, the Federal Reserve sought public feedback on the potential establishment of these accounts, marking a significant step toward greater acceptance of digital assets in the mainstream financial ecosystem. 

Yet, Bitcoinist has reported for the past months that traditional banks have expressed apprehension that allowing crypto companies access to such facilities could compromise financial stability.

Among the companies previously awarded a charter are BitGo, which has acted as the custodian for World Liberty Financial’s USD1 stablecoin. The approval of World Liberty Financial’s application would enable the Trump-backed firm to manage its stablecoin more actively. 

BitGo CEO Mike Belshe lauded USD1’s growth, reporting that it surpassed $3.3 billion in its first year. He expressed enthusiasm for continuing their strategic partnership as World Liberty Trust Company becomes operational and USD1 embarks on its next growth phase.

At the time of writing, World Liberty Financial’s native token, WLFI, is trading at $0.18. This represents a significant 10% increase following the announcement, as well as substantial gains of 37% over the past fourteen days. 

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

On-chain data shows whales have ramped up their memecoin activity as Floki, Pepe, and Shiba Inu have all seen a spike in large transactions.

Memecoins Among The Coins With The Largest Whale Activity Growths

In a new post on X, on-chain analytics firm Santiment has shared the list of cryptocurrencies with a market cap of at least $500 million that have seen the largest weekly jumps in the Whale Transaction Count.

The “Whale Transaction Count” is an indicator that measures the total number of transfers occurring on a given network involving a value of more than $100,000. Transactions of this size are generally considered to reflect the activity of the whales, humongous entities who carry large amounts in their wallets.

When the value of the Whale Transaction Count rises, it means that the whales are ramping up their transfer activity. Such a trend can be a sign that interest in the asset is going up among the big-money traders. On the other hand, the indicator going down implies that the influential members of the market may be shifting their attention away from the cryptocurrency as they have reduced their on-chain participation.

Now, here is a table that shows how the major assets in the cryptocurrency sector rank against each other in terms of the percentage change in their Whale Transaction Count over the past week:

As is visible above, four tokens from the top 10 happen to be memecoins, assets that are tied to an online meme. Two of these are versions of Floki (FLOKI), with the Ethereum blockchain version topping the list with a weekly Whale Transaction Count increase of a whopping 950%, while the BNB Chain version is third with the metric sitting at 550%.

Pepe (PEPE) has come second on the ranking, with whales on the network increasing their activity by 620%. The other memecoin on the list is Shiba Inu (SHIB), ranked tenth with an indicator jump of over 111%. Given that all of these memecoins have seen a substantial increase in the Whale Transaction Count during the past week, it would appear that big-money interest in these assets has reignited.

As for what a strong rise in the metric means, it’s usually hard to say anything for certain, as the Whale Transaction Count only includes the absolute number of whale-sized moves and contains no information about whether buying or selling is dominant. In general, though, volatility can be likely to follow spikes in whale activity.

In the case of the memecoins, the jump in the indicator has coincided with sharp price surges, pointing to accumulation being dominant.

Pepe Price

Pepe has enjoyed the strongest rally out of the memecoins that have seen an uptick in whale transfers, as its price has shot up by more than 47% in the past week.

The entire Electric Coin Company (ECC) team behind privacy coin Zcash has left Bootstrap, a nonprofit created to support the token, after what ECC CEO Josh Swihart described as a governance breakdown that made the team’s work untenable. Swihart said the team will form a new company and continue building on Zcash, while stressing that the protocol itself is unaffected.

A Zcash Civil War In The Making?

In a statement posted to X, Swihart said that “over the past few weeks, it’s become clear that the majority of Bootstrap board members … have moved into clear misalignment with the mission of Zcash,” naming Zaki Manian, Christina Garman, Alan Fairless, and Michelle Lai, which he referred to collectively as “ZCAM.”

Swihart framed the departure as a response to employment changes imposed by the board majority. “Yesterday, the entire ECC team left after being constructively discharged* by ZCAM,” he wrote. “In short, the terms of our employment were changed in ways that made it impossible for us to perform our duties effectively and with integrity.”

The exit represents a sharp escalation in tensions inside one of the support structures surrounding Zcash, a network that has historically relied on a small number of specialist organizations to fund and coordinate development. Swihart did not provide specific details on the governance actions or employment terms at issue, but portrayed the split as a defensive move to protect Electric Coin Company’s ability to execute its mandate.

“We’re founding a new company, but we’re still the same team with the same mission: building unstoppable private money,” Swihart said. He emphasized that “the Zcash protocol is unaffected,” adding that the decision was “simply about protecting our team’s work from malicious governance actions that have made it impossible to honor ECC’s original mission.”

Zooko Wilcox, the founder of Zcash said the conflict does not involve him or Shielded Labs, also sought to separate the organizational dispute from the operational status of the network. “Big drama in one (or two now?) of the many Zcash support orgs,” he wrote on X, before offering reassurance to users.

“The Zcash network is open source, permissionless, secure, and private, and nothing that happens in this conflict can change that,” Zooko said. “You can safely continue to use Zcash.”

In a second point, Zooko offered a character reference for the board members named by Swihart, highlighting how personal trust and long-running working relationships can factor into ecosystem governance disputes. “I’ve worked closely with Alan Fairless, Zaki Manian, and Christina Garman for more than 10 years, through many intense and difficult situations, and with Michelle Lai for about 5 years,” he wrote. “Based on my experiences, I believe them all to be people of exceptionally high integrity.”

Bootstrap Board Responds

[UPDATE:] After Swihart’s post, Bootstrap’s board issued its own statement tying the dispute to governance and legal constraints around a proposed transaction involving Zashi, describing the fallout as a disagreement over structure rather than over Zcash’s underlying mission. “We are saddened by this outcome and respect the contributions of those who have chosen to depart,” the board wrote, before adding that “it’s important to clarify the nature of the disagreement.”

Bootstrap said it was formed as a 501(c)(3) public-benefit nonprofit with “specific legal and fiduciary obligations” governing how assets, intellectual property, and transactions can be structured. According to the board, it had been discussing “external investment and alternative structures to privatize Zashi,” while working with legal counsel to ensure any path forward complied with US nonprofit law and preserved the long-term Zcash mission.

“There is nothing wrong with for-profits,” the statement said, adding that a well-executed effort could bring “a large amount of outside capital into making Zcash and privacy great and user-friendly,” but emphasizing that “Bootstrap/ECC’s nonprofit constraints are real.”

The board warned that the most recent version of the proposed deal could create legal and political risk for the broader ecosystem, arguing it “introduces new vulnerabilities for politically-motivated attacks on Zcash.” It cited the possibility of donor lawsuits and even an unwinding scenario in which “Zashi would have to be transferred back to ECC,” framing those tail risks as a threat not just to the parties involved but to “the entire Zcash ecosystem.”

In that context, the statement cast the standoff as a compliance issue: “This is not a disagreement about Zcash’s mission, which remains unchanged,” the board wrote. “It is about compliance with the legal and fiduciary obligations of a 501(c)(3), and about the moral imperative of ensuring Bootstrap’s assets remain dedicated to the mission they were meant to serve.”

At press time, the ZEC price was strongly affected by the drama, trading at $408.57.

Bitcoin is struggling to maintain strength above the $90,000 level after once again failing to break through the critical $94,000 resistance zone. What initially appeared to be a recovery attempt has gradually lost momentum, leaving BTC trapped in a broad consolidation range that has persisted since late November. Each push higher has been met with selling pressure, reinforcing the idea that bulls are losing control of the short-term trend.

Market sentiment remains fragile. Volatility has compressed, directional conviction is weak, and price action increasingly reflects indecision rather than accumulation. While long-term holders appear largely inactive, the absence of aggressive dip buying suggests that confidence across the broader market is still muted. This environment has created fertile ground for sharp reactions, but not yet for a sustainable trend reversal.

Crucially, on-chain data shows that retail investors are still missing in action. Measures tracking retail demand indicate continued weakness, highlighting that the recent stabilization in price has not been driven by renewed participation from smaller investors.

Historically, strong Bitcoin advances tend to coincide with rising retail involvement, as fresh demand reinforces upside momentum. Without that cohort returning, current price support looks increasingly vulnerable.

Retail Demand Remains Absent

According to data shared by Maartunn, Bitcoin’s 30-day change in Retail Investor Demand remains deeply negative, underscoring a critical weakness beneath the surface of current price action. In simple terms, the crowd has not returned to the market—at least not in a meaningful way.

Retail investors historically play a crucial role in sustaining bullish trends. They provide incremental demand, amplify momentum, and often arrive after periods of consolidation or early recoveries. When retail demand is expanding, price advances tend to be more durable. The opposite is also true. A persistently negative 30-day retail demand metric signals that smaller investors are either staying on the sidelines or continuing to reduce exposure.

This helps explain why Bitcoin’s recent attempts to reclaim higher levels have struggled. Without fresh retail inflows, upside moves rely almost entirely on larger players absorbing supply. That dynamic can support temporary bounces, but it often lacks the depth required for a sustained breakout.

From a risk perspective, weak retail participation also increases fragility. If price rallies into resistance without new demand entering the system, it becomes more vulnerable to pullbacks triggered by profit-taking or external shocks.

Until retail demand begins to recover and shift into positive territory, Bitcoin’s price action is likely to remain range-bound, with rallies facing structural headwinds rather than broad-based support.

Bitcoin Consolidates Below Key Resistance

Bitcoin’s lower-timeframe structure highlights a market that remains fragile despite recent recovery attempts. On the 4-hour chart, BTC is trading just below the $90,000 level after failing to sustain momentum above the $94,000–$95,000 zone earlier this month. That rejection marked a clear lower high, reinforcing the broader corrective structure that has been in place since late November.

From a trend perspective, price is oscillating around its short- and medium-term moving averages, with the 50-period and 100-period averages acting as dynamic resistance rather than support. Each push higher has been met with selling pressure, suggesting that upside liquidity is still being used as an exit rather than as confirmation of renewed demand. The 200-period moving average on this timeframe remains overhead, capping rallies and defining the upper boundary of the current range.

Structurally, Bitcoin is consolidating between roughly $87,000 and $92,000. This range reflects indecision rather than strength. While buyers have defended the lower boundary multiple times, the lack of follow-through above resistance signals exhaustion. Volume has also compressed compared to the November sell-off, indicating reduced participation and a lack of conviction on both sides.

Unless BTC can reclaim the $92,000–$94,000 region with strong volume and hold it as support, the current move remains a corrective bounce. A breakdown below the $87,000 support would likely reopen downside risk toward deeper liquidity levels, keeping short-term risk elevated.

Reece Merrick, Senior Executive Officer and Managing Director for the Middle East & Africa at Ripple, has revealed what’s coming for the ecosystem, highlighting developments that could have potential implications on the XRP price. Although XRP is rebounding and trading above $2, further improvements in its market dynamics and institutional engagement could strengthen its momentum and drive prices higher. 

Ripple Executive Reveals What’s Ahead For XRP

In an X post on Wednesday, Merrick gave a detailed perspective on where XRP is heading and why its role in global finance is expanding. The Ripple executive highlighted XRP’s continued role as a bridge asset connecting real-world finance with emerging digital markets. 

He stated that XRP is actively supporting stablecoins, Real-World Assets (RWAs), and institutional payment flows at scale. He also noted that these use cases show the cryptocurrency moving beyond theory and into practical financial infrastructure. 

In his post, Merrick emphasized that growing momentum in Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) is amplifying institutional participation in XRP. He said that more corporate treasuries are now exploring the cryptocurrency as a reserve asset, signaling that adoption is still in an early phase. 

Merrick indicated that all these developments lay the foundation for XRP’s price outlook. By positioning the cryptocurrency at the center of global settlement and liquidity, increased institutional demand can drive stronger market dynamics that push the XRP price higher over time. Moreover, the Ripple executive believes these developments are just the beginning, suggesting more growth ahead for XRP. 

Notably, Merrick’s statements were issued in response to a broader discussion initiated by RippleX, the developer-focused arm of the crypto company. The thread explained XRP’s functional design and its role in global financial systems. RippleX emphasized that XRP is purpose-built for settlement and liquidity, not speculation. 

The team described the cryptocurrency as a neutral bridge that enables value movement across payment rails, stablecoins, tokenized assets, and collateral worldwide. RippleX also noted that XRP is among the few digital assets with clear regulatory standing in the United States and ranks within the top three cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. 

RippleX further highlighted that XRP has achieved its first institutional treasury through Evernorth, which has secured more than $1 billion in commitments. It also noted support from multiple spot ETF issuers, including Bitwise, Canary Capital, Franklin Templeton, and Grayscale.

How These Developments Could Drive The XRP Price

In his post, Merrick highlighted several bullish factors for XRP, including ETFs, settlements, institutional adoption, and RWAs. Each of these developments could support the XRP price in different ways. 

Firstly, ETFs could drive prices higher as investors buy more products to gain exposure to XRP without the typical security and regulatory risks. Analysts also theorize that a supply shock could occur, leading to a subsequent price spike as institutions absorb significant portions of XRP’s available supply. 

Institutional adoption through global settlements could also rapidly increase demand, possibly influencing price action. RWAs and stablecoins also create a new demand market for XRP, supporting potential upward price movement.

Speculation regarding a potential presidential pardon for Sam Bankman-Fried, the disgraced former CEO and co-founder of crypto exchange FTX, intensified since former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao received clemency from President Donald Trump last year. 

However, a recent report by The New York Times indicates that Trump has firmly rejected the idea of pardoning Bankman-Fried, alongside other high-profile figures.

No Clemency For FTX Co-Founder

When questioned about the possibility of issuing presidential pardons for individuals such as Sean Combs, Nicolas Maduro, and Bankman-Fried, Trump made it clear that he had no intentions of granting clemency to these individuals. 

This news comes as the former crypto mogul continues to seek relief from his 25-year sentence for one of the largest financial frauds in modern history.

Bankman-Fried’s parents are reportedly working behind the scenes to lobby for a reduction in their son’s sentence. Despite these efforts, the extensive fallout from FTX’s collapse appears to have swayed Trump’s thinking against issuing a pardon.

In November 2023, Bankman-Fried was convicted on seven criminal counts, including fraud and conspiracy, resulting in a 25-year prison sentence and a mandate to repay $11 billion to FTX customers. 

His legal team stated back in November 2025 that their client had been “unfairly convicted,” claiming he was denied a fair opportunity to defend himself amid intense media scrutiny and prosecutorial pressure. 

“Sam Bankman-Fried was never presumed innocent,” they argued in their appeal. “He was presumed guilty—before he was even charged.”

 Bankman-Fried Pursues Legal Remedies

The situation drew further comparisons to Zhao’s case when, on October 23, the White House announced Trump had pardoned the Binance co-founder, who had previously pleaded guilty to charges two years earlier. 

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt remarked that the President was exercising his constitutional authority in pardoning Zhao, who faced prosecution by the Biden Administration amidst its regulatory actions against cryptocurrency.

However, the circumstances surrounding FTX’s dramatic collapse suggest that a pardon for the former FTX CEO is unlikely at this time. As it stands, Bankman-Fried remains focused on his legal options.

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

In a devastating blow for Ripple’s XRP, global asset management firm WisdomTree has announced the withdrawal of its Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) application. Notably, this move comes as XRP ETFs experience significant demand in the highly competitive ETF market. Moreover, the news has triggered a substantial decline in the altcoin’s price, which just recently began to recover from previous lows. 

Ripple’s XRP Declines As WisdomTree Abandons ETF 

XRP has faced a significant setback in its recent rally, as WisdomTree formally withdraws its registration for an ETF. Filed just over a month ago in December 2024, the asset manager has now requested the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to cancel its ETF application.

The news likely triggered the sharp decline in XRP’s price, erasing significant gains made earlier this week. WisdomTree’s filing with the US SEC confirmed that its planned ETF product would not proceed, despite months of coordination with regulators and exchanges and substantial costs invested in the project. 

Notably, the filing cited Rule 477 of Regulation C under the Securities Act of 1933 and clarified that no shares had been sold under the original registration. This means the planned product was effectively halted before it reached the market. 

Initially, WisdomTree’s XRP ETF was designed to provide regulated exposure to the token through shares listed on Cboe BZX. This structure followed a model similar to the asset manager’s previous Bitcoin ETF. Given that WisdomTree’s Spot Bitcoin ETF is among the most prominent and widely adopted US-based crypto products, its decision to withdraw its XRP ETF comes as a surprise. 

This move highlights the underlying difficulties of launching new crypto investment vehicles, even for firms with an established reputation and a track record of success in related products. Currently, competition in the XRP ETF market is fierce, and this could have been a contributing factor to WisdomTree’s exit. 

Several firms, including Grayscale, Canary Capital, Franklin Templeton, and Bitwise, are already capturing the majority of inflows, vying for liquidity in an increasingly crowded space. By stepping away from its XRP ETF plans, WisdomTree not only avoids this congestion but also strategically positions itself to recalibrate its next move in the crypto space. 

XRP ETFs See First Outflow Since Launch

Following WisdomTree’s withdrawal of its XRP ETF application, data from SoSovalue revealed significant outflows across four of the five available products. Daily total net inflows turned negative on January 7, recording an outflow of approximately $40.8 million. 

This marks the first outflow since XRP ETFs launched in Q4 2025, ending a streak of over 35 days of consistent inflows. Canary Capital, Bitwise, Franklin Templeton, and 21Shares all experienced major outflows. Only Grayscale recorded positive flows of about 0.13%, roughly $1.69 million. 

Cumulative net inflows into the XRP ETF also reached $1.25 billion on January 6, 2026. However, as of writing, this figure has fallen to $1.2 billion, reducing the market value by approximately $5 billion.

XRP is attempting to stabilize around the $2.10 level after suffering a sharp 12% retrace from its recent local highs. The pullback has cooled momentum and left the market searching for direction, with bulls struggling to regain control amid broader uncertainty across the crypto sector. While downside pressure has eased for now, price action remains indecisive, reflecting a fragile balance between buyers defending support and sellers taking advantage of recent strength.

Adding important context to this consolidation, a recent CryptoQuant analysis highlights a notable shift in XRP’s on-chain flow dynamics. Data tracking XRP movements to Binance shows that whales have continued to dominate exchange inflows, accounting for roughly 60.3% of total transfers, compared with 39.7% attributed to retail participants.

However, despite whales still representing the majority, their relative participation has been steadily declining since mid-December. This marks a clear change from November and early December, when whale activity peaked above 70% of total flows.

Historically, elevated whale inflows to exchanges are often associated with distribution or increased selling pressure. The gradual reduction in whale dominance suggests that large holders may be easing back from aggressive positioning following the recent correction.

Whale Flows Ease as XRP Searches for a Base

The CryptoQuant report highlights that the recent decline in whale flows to Binance has unfolded alongside a clear price correction in XRP. After peaking near the $3.20 area in late 2025, the average price has retraced toward the $2.26 zone, cooling speculative excess built during the prior rally. Historically, heavy whale inflows to exchanges tend to signal preparation for selling or redistribution. In that context, the gradual reduction in these flows suggests that large holders are, at least for now, stepping back from aggressive distribution.

This shift becomes more meaningful when contrasted with retail behavior. Data show that retail flow percentages have remained relatively stable since mid-December, with no sharp spike in exchange transfers. That stability implies an absence of panic selling among smaller participants, even as the price corrected. When both whales and retail investors refrain from escalating sell pressure simultaneously, market conditions often transition away from impulsive downside moves.

Taken together, this dynamic points toward a potential re-accumulation phase following XRP’s strong advance earlier in the cycle. While whale activity remains elevated in absolute terms, its declining share reduces the probability of a sudden, disorderly sell-off in the near term.

That said, this balance remains fragile. Any renewed surge in whale flows to Binance would quickly alter the outlook, serving as an early warning that distribution may be resuming and that downside risk is increasing again.

Price Struggles To Stabilize After Deep Retracement

XRP price action on the daily chart reflects a market still searching for balance after a sharp correction from late-2025 highs. Following the rejection near the $3.30–$3.40 region, XRP entered a sustained downtrend, printing a series of lower highs and lower lows. This structure remained intact through November and December, confirming persistent bearish pressure as price slipped below key moving averages.

Recently, XRP has attempted to stabilize around the $2.10 area, which is acting as a short-term demand zone. The bounce from sub-$1.90 lows suggests sellers are losing momentum, but the recovery remains technically weak. Price is still trading below the 50-day and 100-day moving averages, both of which are sloping downward and now represent dynamic resistance near the $2.40–$2.60 range. As long as XRP remains capped below these levels, upside moves are likely to face selling pressure.

Volume during the rebound has been relatively muted compared to the sell-off, indicating a lack of strong conviction from buyers. This supports the view that the current move is corrective rather than the start of a new trend. Structurally, XRP would need to reclaim and hold above the $2.50 zone to invalidate the broader bearish setup.

The chart suggests consolidation risk remains elevated. Failure to defend $2.00 decisively could reopen downside toward prior liquidity zones, while a clean break above moving-average resistance would be required to signal a meaningful shift in momentum.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com 

Despite the recent pullback, the price of Bitcoin has managed to hold above the $91,000 level as the market shifts towards a volatile state once again. While BTC continues to face sideways movements, short-term holders remain underwater. However, a sharp bounce above a specific level could be a game-changer for these investors.

A Make-Or-Break Point For Bitcoin STHs Is Fast Approaching

Following the brief bounce on Monday, Bitcoin is closing in on a pivotal price zone that could reshape the sentiment and behavior of short-term BTC holders. This objective was disclosed by Alphractal, an advanced investment and on-chain data analytics platform, after examining the BTC Short-Term Holder NUPL (Net Unrealized Profit/Loss).

Related Reading: Bitcoin Value Days Destroyed Reaches Lowest Point Of The Current Cycle, A Structural Calm?

As the market approaches this threshold, On-chain measures indicate a change in attitude, with speculative capital starting to reevaluate risk, spending patterns shifting, and unrealized profits and losses constricting. The level signifies the zone where feeble hands may capitulate or re-enter the market with conviction.

According to the platform, the Bitcoin short-term holder NUPL has started to rise again and is currently heading toward the 0 level. Such a move toward the level indicates that the holders are moving to a break-even zone and are close to lowering their unrealized losses.

It is important to note that the area around the 0 level has historically served as a resistance for the short-term holder NUPL metric. However, a move into positive territory is only expected to occur if BTC breaks above and holds the $99,000 mark, which currently represents the short-term holder realized price.

Until that happens, the platform highlighted that the majority of short-term holders continue to operate at a loss. Interestingly, this will keep the market sensitive to volatility spikes and defensive profit-taking, especially from the group.

Whether the $99,000 level serves as a launchpad or a stress test, it is clear that Bitcoin’s path to this crucial area might completely change the near-term environment for both traders and short-term investors. 

BTC’s Bullish Movement Is Weak Because Of Investors’ Demand

Bitcoin quickly lost its renewed bullish momentum, and several reasons have been linked to why this happened. However, one of the key reasons that stands out strongly is the demand for the flagship crypto asset.

In a CryptoQuant Quicktake research, Caueconomy, a market expert and author, revealed that the demand for BTC is still weak and needs to recover. Despite the price of BTC recently rising to the $93,000 level, the expert noted that apparent on-chain demand is still low and requires a stronger comeback to sustain a return to $100,000.

Currently, demand for a return to on-chain movement has not yet shown clear signs of improvement due to the market’s low trading volume and still conflicting attitude. However, Caueconomy stated that this could happen now, with the end of the holiday period, as many investors are likely to reduce trading.

JPMorgan has moved its blockchain strategy into a new phase after confirming plans to deploy its proprietary digital dollar token on a public blockchain network. The development is part of how major banks are increasingly comfortable using public blockchain infrastructure, provided it can be adapted to meet institutional and regulatory requirements. 

Although the XRP Ledger ticks all the boxes required, JPMorgan’s leadership has gravitated toward Cronos as the environment best suited for expanding the real-world use of its in-house digital asset.

JPM Coin Steps Onto Public Blockchain Infrastructure

Digital Asset and Kinexys by J.P. Morgan, the global banking heavyweight, disclosed that its USD-backed deposit token, known as JPM Coin, will now be deployed on a public blockchain framework. 

JPM Coin is the first bank-issued USD-denominated deposit token fully backed by US dollar deposits held at the bank. The coin is designed for wholesale payments and settlements between institutional clients, and this provides the ability for transfers to be completed far faster than traditional banking rails.

Moving JPM Coin onto a public blockchain means that JPMorgan sees long-term value in shared infrastructure, especially as tokenized assets and on-chain settlement gain traction across global markets. The bank’s approach centers on efficiency and interoperability while still preserving strict controls around who can access and use the token.

Interestingly, J.P. Morgan’s leadership aligned around Cronos as the most suitable option for the deployment of JPM Coin on a public blockchain. Cronos offers compatibility with existing smart contract standards, established tooling, and an ecosystem already familiar to institutions experimenting with tokenized assets and payments. 

According to the press release, by bringing JPM Coin natively to Canton, Digital Asset and Kinexys by J.P. Morgan are laying the foundation for regulated, interoperable digital money that can move quickly across financial markets. 

Under the terms of the collaboration, Digital Asset and JPMorgan plan a phased integration through 2026, starting with the technical and operational groundwork needed to support the issuance, transfer, and near-instant redemption of JPM Coin directly on Canton. Later phases may include introducing additional products, including J.P. Morgan’s Blockchain Deposit Accounts, to expand the offerings.

Direction Of Bank-Led Blockchain Adoption

JPMorgan’s recent move shows how major financial institutions are selectively embracing public blockchains, and this is a reflection of the growth of the entire crypto ecosystem. Interestingly, this blockchain expansion comes against the backdrop of growing internal discussions at JPMorgan about deeper involvement in digital assets. 

Recent reports show that the bank is already evaluating whether its markets division should begin offering cryptocurrency trading services to institutional clients. 

The internal review reportedly includes potential spot trading as well as derivatives exposure tied to digital assets, pointing to a wider reassessment of how crypto fits into JPMorgan’s business. Although the company is already involved in crypto-related initiatives, this would be the first time it will be directly involved.

The explosive rise of Solana meme coins has reshaped speculative crypto trading, but a growing segment of analysts now argues that a similar — and potentially more efficient — rotation could be forming around the XRP Ledger. In a recent market commentary, one analyst went further by pointing to select XRP meme coins as potential high-beta opportunities, particularly for investors looking to amplify exposure without rotating into already overheated assets.

Why Analysts Foresee An XRP Meme Coin Takeover

On January 6, 2026, the analyst outlined an investment approach for XRP meme coins that prioritizes capital efficiency and market dynamics, highlighting tokens where strategic positioning can maximize potential returns. He cited the Solana meme coin surge as a reference point, where low transaction costs, rapid execution, and strong community-driven momentum allowed small-cap tokens to deliver outsized returns within compressed timeframes.

The argument now shifts to the XRP Ledger, which offers similar transactional advantages but with a critical distinction: XRPL-based meme coins remain far less crowded and are still trading at comparatively lower valuations. This imbalance, according to the analyst, creates a potential window for capital rotation into ecosystems with room for rapid price expansion.

As XRP’s spot price appreciates, many retail participants find it increasingly difficult to accumulate large positions. The proposed workaround is strategic rotation — reallocating smaller XRP holdings into XRPL-native meme tokens that historically exhibit sharper percentage moves during speculative phases. In such conditions, XRPL meme coins can act as leveraged proxies to broader XRP sentiment, allowing traders to synthetically increase exposure without additional capital.

Best XRP Meme Coins To Invest In

The analyst’s approach focuses on capital efficiency rather than long-term token holding. He argues that during active meme cycles, reallocating a relatively small XRP position into select XRPL meme coins can significantly increase exposure. In practical terms, he suggests that pushing roughly $2,000 into a basket of high-momentum XRPL meme tokens could realistically scale into $10,000 if meme liquidity turns aggressive. The objective is not to hold meme assets indefinitely, but to convert short-term price acceleration back into a larger XRP position.

The analyst went further to spotlight a handful of XRPL meme coins that currently combine visibility, liquidity, and community traction — factors that tend to matter more than fundamentals in speculative markets. $DROP stands out as an early and recognizable XRPL meme, often attracting liquidity first when sentiment shifts. $ARMY relies on strong community coordination, which can accelerate price movement during hype-driven phases. $FUZZY benefits from simple, character-based branding that appeals quickly to retail traders, while $PHNIX leverages a resurgence narrative that aligns with broader optimism around the XRP Ledger.

By investing in these XRP meme tokens, the analyst believes investors can amplify their XRP exposure. The opportunity lies in timing and execution, leveraging momentum to potentially turn smaller capital allocations into significantly larger positions, rather than relying on gradual large-cap price appreciation.

As the year begins, Ethereum has displayed notable bullish performance. However, the recent strength of ETH is not only reflected in its price action. On-chain data also shows that the ETH network has sharply picked up pace this new year, with adoption and usage reaching historical levels.

Ethereum Crosses Major TVL Landmark

The Ethereum network is making a powerful statement across the dynamic cryptocurrency and blockchain sector just a few days into the new year. A recent report from Leon Waidmann, a market expert and On-Chain Foundation’s head of research, has outlined a new milestone for the leading blockchain network.

As seen in the chart, the network has crossed a significant landmark in application Total Value Locked (TVL), which reflects its expanding role as a foundation for Decentralized Finance (DeFi) and Web3 innovation. ETH’s total application TVL has now surpassed the $300 billion mark.

This new increase in TVL is likely due to fresh investment in DeFi protocols, liquid staking systems, and on-chain apps that are based on Ethereum’s strong infrastructure. A figure of this magnitude signals a surge in user confidence, growing utility, and a maturing ecosystem that is steadily attracting both developers and institutional investors. 

With the latest milestone in app TVL, the Ethereum network is not only demonstrating present strength but also solidifying its standing as a major hub for value creation and on-chain activities. According to the expert, this figure matters more than it may seem. It is a sign that capital is actively used within unchain applications.

Ethereum’s growth in DeFi, stablecoins, Real World Assets (RWAs), and staking indicates real economic activity, surpassing other major networks. Waidmann highlighted that liquidity often follows depth, and yet the deepest pools are found in ETH.

Developers follow composability, and the network is becoming the hub for the richest set of developers. Furthermore, institutions that follow predictability are heavily found in the ETH network. Lastly, Ethereum has become the center for new apps, which follow users and capital.

A New Level Of Network Activity For ETH

Ethereum’s performance has picked up pace, and the main network activity has experienced a dramatic surge. In another X post, Waidamann disclosed that the activity of the ETH main network is at a new all-time high, signaling renewed confidence across the ecosystem.

Data shared by Waidmann shows that the daily transactions conducted on the network on a daily basis has now reached 2 million. At the same time, the total number of active wallet addresses per day on the blockchain rose sharply, reaching between 500,000 and 600,000.

In addition to demonstrating Ethereum’s supremacy as a leading smart contract platform, this surge in transactions and active addresses also shows expanding practical use at a time when network principles are more important than ever.

Should the network maintain the substantial wave of adoption, the expert believes that this renewed conviction could extend toward ETH’s price action. “It’s just a matter of time until the price catches up,” Waidmann stated.

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

Missouri AG Launches Investigation Into Companies Using Bitcoin ATMs

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

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

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

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

Companies Currently Under Investigation

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

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

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

Сооснователь и бывший директор криптобиржи BitMEX Артур Хейс (Arthur Hayes) заявил, что дешевая нефть в США и прилив ликвидности на крипторынок приведут к росту биткоина.

The US Marshals Service (USMS) says it did not sell 57.5 Bitcoin that crypto media and on-chain sleuths had recently flagged as liquidated, pushing back on a narrative that the government may be offloading coins despite the Strategic BTC Reserve directive by US President Donald Trump.

The dispute surfaced after Bitcoin Magazine cited court paperwork that appeared to authorize liquidation of BTC tied to the Samourai Wallet case, and as blockchain movements showed the coins landing at Coinbase Prime, activity that traders often treat as a sale signal, even if it is not definitive on its own.

Wyoming Sen. Cynthia Lummis, one of Washington’s most vocal Bitcoin proponents, seized on the reporting to question why the government would be selling at all. “We can’t afford to squander these strategic assets while other nations are accumulating Bitcoin. I’m deeply concerned about this report,” she wrote on X, referencing the purported Samourai-linked sale.

Why is the U.S. gov still liquidating bitcoin when @POTUS explicitly directed these assets be preserved for our Strategic Bitcoin Reserve? We can’t afford to squander these strategic assets while other nations are accumulating bitcoin. I’m deeply concerned about this report. https://t.co/XW5WxsfliA

— Senator Cynthia Lummis (@SenLummis) January 6, 2026

No Bitcoin Sold: USMS

At the center of the controversy is Executive Order 14233, which requires BTC obtained via criminal or civil forfeiture to be preserved as part of a US Strategic BTC Reserve. The reporting suggested the alleged sale clashed with that mandate.

After DL News published its story, however, USMS directly denied that any such sale occurred, also criticizing the reporting process: [The USMS] has not sold the Bitcoin mentioned and it has no idea how Bitcoin Magazine would get that information. But they did not fact check nor contact us for information.”

Furthermore, the US Marshals told DL News that “USMS cryptocurrency liquidations go through a multi-level approval process to ensure only forfeited digital assets that meet the requirements of Section D of Executive Order 14233 are disposed.”

What sparked the confusion in the first place was a document described as an “Asset Liquidation Agreement” and an associated dollar figure—$6,367,139.69—tied to 57.5 BTC that were transferred on Nov. 3, 2025, in connection with the Samourai matter. Separately, on-chain tracking showed the same 57.5 BTC deposited to Coinbase Prime, a pattern that can be consistent with liquidation but “could not prove” a sale by itself.

In the Samourai case, federal authorities arrested developers Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill in 2024, alleging the service operated as an unlicensed money transmitting business used by criminals. The report at issue centered on BTC that the developers paid to the Department of Justice as part of a guilty plea.

At press time, BTC traded at $89,915.