Из жизни альткоинов

Директор департамента национальной платежной системы Банка России Алла Бакина заявила, что благодаря цифровому рублю население перестанет зависеть от ограничений и тарифной политики банковских структур.

Гендиректор американской криптобиржи Coinbase Брайан Армстронг (Brian Armstrong) назвал причины, по которым курс биткоина может достичь $1 млн за монету в ближайшие пять лет.

Президент компании Ripple Моника Лонг (Monica Long) заявила, что этот год станет переломным для индустрии — криптовалюты окончательно встроятся в глобальную финансовую систему и перестанут восприниматься в качестве альтернативы традиционным финансам.

Bitcoin treasury company Strategy has unveiled a new $2.13 billion BTC acquisition, its largest spend since July 2025’s $2.46 billion purchase.

Strategy Has Expanded Its Bitcoin Reserves By 22,305 BTC

As announced by Strategy co-founder and chairman Michael Saylor in an X post, the company has completed another Bitcoin acquisition, this one involving 22,305 BTC.

According to the filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the purchase occurred in the period between January 12th and 19th, and cost Strategy $95,284 per token or $2.13 billion in total. The firm sold shares of its STRK, STRC, and MSTR at-the-market (ATM) stock offerings to fund the buy.

Usually, Strategy reveals new acquisitions on Mondays, but this time the announcement has come on a Tuesday. The routine Sunday Saylor post foreshadowing the buy, however, did come on time.

This time, the Strategy chairman made the post with the caption “₿igger Orange.” Many in the community speculated that the caption was a hint at the next purchase from the company being bigger than the last, which already involved a significant sum of 13,627 BTC.

And indeed, not only has the buy been larger, it has in fact been the largest Bitcoin acquisition made by the firm since November 2024 in terms of the number of tokens involved. The larger purchase in that month expanded Strategy’s treasury by a whopping 55,500 BTC.

When considering the USD value, though, the latest acquisition falls short of a purchase from late July 2025, costing the company about $2.46 billion. BTC was trading at a higher value back then, so the larger USD sum got the company a lower amount of coins (21,021 BTC).

Following the latest purchase, Saylor’s firm has crossed the 700,000 BTC milestone, as its holdings have now risen to 709,715 BTC. Strategy spent a total of $53.92 billion on this stack and its current value stands at $63.55 billion, putting it in a profit of nearly 18%.

As Strategy continues to accumulate, it’s solidifying its already dominant position as by far the largest corporate holder of Bitcoin, as rankings from BitcoinTreasuries.net indicate.

Strategy’s closest digital asset treasury competitor isn’t a Bitcoin company, but rather an Ethereum one: Bitmine. Originally a mining-focused firm, Bitmine adopted an ETH treasury strategy in mid-2025 and has quickly established itself in the space, becoming the number one corporate holder of Ethereum and number two in overall rankings behind Strategy.

According to a Tuesday press release, Bitmine has also added to its reserves over the past week, purchasing 35,268 ETH. This has taken the company’s total holdings to 4,203,036 ETH, equivalent to nearly 3.5% of the cryptocurrency’s entire circulating supply.

BTC Price

Bitcoin has been showing bearish momentum recently as its price has declined to the $89,300 level.

Министр финансов США Скотт Бессент (Scott Bessent) заявил на пресс-конференции в Давосе, что американские власти не станут продавать конфискованные в ходе уголовных дел биткоины, которые были внесены в стратегический резерв страны.

Председатель комитета Госдумы по энергетике Николай Шульгинов заявил, что общий ущерб, который наносят российской экономике нелегальные майнеры, оценивается примерно в 20 млрд рублей в год.

A year into his presidency, US President Donald Trump and his family have reportedly seen a notable shift in their wealth distribution, with a growing concentration of crypto ventures linked to the presidential family.

Trump Family’s Wealth Gets Crypto Boost

On Tuesday, Bloomberg reported that the Trump family’s wealth has remained relatively steady over the past year despite the plunging value of their social media company, Trump Media & Technology Group Corp, and the massive gains of their new crypto ventures.

According to the report, the family’s overall net worth has not grown significantly since President Trump’s inauguration, remaining at around $6.8 billion, as data from the Bloomberg Billionaires Index shows.

Notably, the gains from their new projects were offset by the losses of Trump Media, whose shares have declined by around 66% over the past 12 months, despite efforts to diversify into various endeavors.

Nonetheless, “the way the Trumps’ wealth is distributed now — particularly its concentration in virtual assets and public companies, some of which didn’t exist when he left office in 2021 — represents a sea change in how they’ll earn money for years to come,” the report highlighted.

Per Bloomberg, the family’s most notable change has been the growing concentration of their net worth in cryptocurrencies, with one-fifth of their fortune coming from crypto projects for the first time.

As a result, “cryptocurrency projects became the key driver of the Trump family’s wealth last year,” generating around $1.4 billion from the different digital asset-related ventures managed by the President’s eldest sons, Eric and Donald Trump Jr.

In a statement to the news media outlet, Eric Trump reaffirmed that his family’s crypto push was driven by their experience with banks after the President’s first term. “Having been canceled by banks, out of political malice, led us to many incredible opportunities, as we redefine the future of finance,” he asserted.

Digital Asset Fortune Breakdown

Over the past year, various news outlets have estimated the first family’s crypto fortune, with some reports calculating its value at around $1 billion. In October, Eric Trump shared that the real number was “probably more.”

While the Trump family dived into multiple crypto-related projects, Bloomberg analysis highlighted three of their main ventures: World Liberty Financial (WLFI), American Bitcoin Corp., and the official TRUMP and MELANIA memecoins.

World Liberty Financial reportedly sold $550 million worth of tokens, generating $390 million for the presidential family, according to the news media outlet’s calculations. In August, the company announced its partnership with Alt5 Sigma and became an investor in the technology firm, which sought to raise $1.5 billion for its crypto treasury strategy based on WLFI.

According to Bloomberg, “the Trumps netted more than $500 million” from the deal. The company also launched its USD1 stablecoin in March, which has grown to more than $3 billion since its debut. Bloomberg estimated that the business could be worth more than $300 million.

Meanwhile, the official TRUMP and MELANIA memecoins, which launched the weekend before President Trump’s second inauguration, generated gains worth roughly $280 million from the family’s holdings and associated proceeds.

In addition, Eric Trump owns about 7.4% of American Bitcoin, worth roughly $114 million despite the company’s shares declining 82% since their September peak. Donald Jr. reportedly owns a smaller, undisclosed amount.

The report also noted that the Trump family’s fortune could be worth billions more on paper, as they still own founder WLFI tokens, worth $3.8 billion at current prices. Nonetheless, these tokens were not included in the calculations as they remain locked.

A recent report from CNBC reveals that Binance’s co-CEO, Richard Teng, is contemplating a return to the US market after exiting in 2023 as part of a regulatory agreement that also resulted in the departure of the exchange’s former CEO, Changpeng Zhao (CZ). 

Ripple CEO Predicts Positive Impact From Binance’s Return

During an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Tuesday, Teng emphasized that Binance is taking a “wait-and-see” stance regarding its reentry into the US, a market he considers “very important.”

In tandem with Teng’s comments, Brad Garlinghouse, Ripple’s CEO, shared his optimistic outlook for the world’s leading exchange comeback in a separate interview with CNBC. 

Garlinghouse remarked that the US market is significant and suggested that Binance had previously been a major player within it. “I think they’ll come back because they’re a capitalistic, innovative company that wants to solve larger market challenges and continue to grow,” he stated.

Not only that, but Garlinghouse also believes that Binance’s entry into the country’s cryptocurrency market could increase competition and ultimately attract more users. He noted: 

I think it will actually have the positive impact of bringing more people into the market, in part because it’ll reduce pricing. Today their pricing is lower on a global basis than what we see here in the U.S.

Teng, Garlinghouse Call For Support Of Key Crypto Bills

The discussion of Binance’s future in the US comes amidst a turbulent regulatory environment for cryptocurrencies. The recent cancellation of the crucial markup for the crypto market structure bill, known as the CLARITY Act, reflects ongoing challenges. 

Teng, a former regulator himself, weighed in on the state of US crypto regulations, asserting that “any regulation will be better than no regulation.” He explained that having regulatory clarity allows companies to navigate the framework effectively. 

“Once you have clarity, you can then start working around those rules,” Teng added, acknowledging that initial regulations may not be perfect but can be refined over time.

This backdrop of regulatory uncertainty is further complicated by recent developments in the industry. The CEO of Coinbase, Brian Armstrong, stepped back from supporting the crypto market structure bill just 24 hours before its markup, leading to its eventual suspension. 

Garlinghouse, who continues to support the bill in its latest form, was surprised by Armstrong’s “vehemence” against the CLARITY Act. He noted that “the rest of the industry, including exchanges that compete with Coinbase, were still supporting it.”

Looking ahead, Garlinghouse is hopeful that industry leaders will find a way to overcome the current impasse. “If we want the industry to continue to grow, we need things like the Genius Act and the Clarity Act,” he affirmed.

At the time of writing, Binance’s native token, Binance Coin (BNB), had dropped to $893.65, marking a 3.7% decline over the previous 24 hours. Ripple’s associated XRP token retraced towards $1.90, suffering even greater losses of 5.5% in the same time frame. 

Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com 

A governance vote that moved this week has left many WLFI holders upset. Some feel they were shut out while a small group pushed the plan through. The divide is loud online and on chain.

Locked Tokens Leave Many Without A Voice

Reports say about 80% of WLFI tokens sold to investors remain locked, which meant most holders could not take part in the vote over the treasury move.

That gap in voting access has become the focus of criticism. People who bought early and still cannot trade their tokens say it is unfair for the project to spend community assets without broad participation.

Social posts and forum threads show growing calls for a clear unlock plan and more transparent rules on governance.

Concentrated Votes From Few Wallets

Data pulled from the vote and coverage indicate that a small number of addresses carried much of the weight in the decision. Reports note the top nine wallets controlled nearly 60% of the voting power, and one large address alone held a significant share.

The governance proposal to use a portion of the unlocked treasury to incentivize USD1 adoption has passed with 77.75% of the vote in favor.

This happened because the community showed up, evaluated the proposal, and made a clear decision about the direction of the WLFI ecosystem.…

— WLFI (@worldlibertyfi) January 4, 2026

At the same time, the official vote tally posted by the project showed the proposal passed with strong support among those who could vote.

According to a public update, around 77.75% of cast votes were in favor. That result has done little to calm critics who point to the locked-token issue as the root cause of the dispute.

What The Proposal Would Use The Funds For

The plan approved allows use of a slice of the unlocked WLFI treasury to support USD1, the project’s stablecoin. The proposal language and the project’s governance page say the allocation would not exceed 5% of unlocked treasury holdings.

Supporters argue these incentives and partnerships could help USD1 gain more use and push activity across the network.

Opponents worry about spending before solving token access and governance fairness. Some also point to past price swings after partial unlocks as a reason to slow down spending from the treasury.

Haven’t seen anyone else talk about this yet, so I wanted to bring up an alarming governance vote by World Liberty Fi this month that appears to be the start of a slow extraction of value from WLFI holders by the team:

What you see above appears to be a rigged vote, where the… pic.twitter.com/CGsj7vVUUk

— DeFi^2 (@DefiSquared) January 20, 2026

Pressure On Leadership And Next Steps

The controversy has put pressure on the team to respond. Calls for a clear timetable for unlocking the remaining tokens are widespread.

There are also requests for a review of voting rules so that major economic decisions have broader buy-in from holders who are affected by the outcomes.

Trump Family Connection To WLFI

US President Donald Trump and members of his family have previously been linked to WLFI through investment and advisory roles.

Reports note that their involvement has drawn additional media attention to the project, with some observers questioning whether high-profile ties influence governance decisions and treasury allocations.

Their connection adds another layer of scrutiny as the controversy over locked tokens and concentrated voting continues.

Featured image from Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times, chart from TradingView

On-chain data shows Bitcoin short-term holders have extended their underwater streak, with BTC continuing to trade under their cost basis.

Bitcoin Short-Term Holders Are Still Holding Net Losses

In a new post on X, on-chain analytics firm Glassnode has talked about the latest trend in the Net Unrealized Profit/Loss (NUPL) for Bitcoin short-term holders. This indicator measures, as its name suggests, the net amount of profit or loss that BTC investors as a whole are carrying.

The metric finds the net profit/loss in USD terms, but as capital stored in the cryptocurrency is following an upward trajectory, the absolute value of profits and losses is also ballooning. To normalize across cycles, the indicator compares the net profit/loss against the asset’s market cap.

When the value of the NUPL is positive, it means the BTC investors as a whole are in a state of net unrealized profit relative to the market cap. On the other hand, the metric’s value being under the zero mark suggests the overall network is underwater. In the context of the current topic, the NUPL of a specific part of the blockchain is of interest: short-term holders (STHs). This cohort includes the BTC investors who purchased their coins within the past 155 days.

Now, here is the chart shared by Glassnode that shows the trend in the Bitcoin STH NUPL over the last several years:

As displayed in the above graph, the Bitcoin STH NUPL has been negative recently, indicating that the recent buyers of the asset have been holding a net unrealized loss.

The group first went underwater back in November when the cryptocurrency’s price witnessed its crash. BTC steadied course in December and has seen some recovery in January, but even at the peak of the surge, the STHs couldn’t return to profits.

“A recovery above ~$98K appears to be the minimum threshold required to return this cohort to a net profitable state,” explained the analytics firm. It now remains to be seen whether the unrealized loss streak of the STHs will extend further in the near future or if BTC will reclaim its cost basis.

The NUPL provides information about the profits and losses that Bitcoin investors have yet to capture. Another metric called the Net Realized Profit/Loss covers the profits and losses that BTC holders are “harvesting” through their transactions.

As CryptoQuant head of research, Julio Moreno, has pointed out in an X post, the 30-day value of the Bitcoin Net Realized Profit/Loss has been negative recently, a sign that loss-taking has outweighed profit-taking. This is the first time since October 2023 that loss realization has dominated this timeframe, as the chart below shows.

BTC Price

At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading around $90,900, down more than 2% over the past week.

Ethiopia has announced it is looking for a global partner to build a state-backed Bitcoin mining operation, moving from a model of hosting private miners toward something run with government involvement.

The call for partners was made at the Finance Forward Ethiopia 2026 event and signals a clearer role for the state in the country’s crypto plans.

State Seeks Global Partner

Reports say Ethiopian Investment Holdings, the country’s sovereign fund, will lead the search and help set up the project with outside capital and technical know-how.

This shift aims to turn cheap, surplus hydropower into a steady source of foreign income instead of leaving it unused.

The move is simple on paper. Use local power. Create jobs. Bring in money. But the reality is quite complex. Ethiopia has already seen miners move in, drawn by low rates and access to hydroelectric plants.

Some deals have been quietly signed. The government hopes that a formal partner will bring better oversight and clearer returns to the state rather than the piecemeal contracts that came earlier.

Hydropower And Money

Large miners have started running rigs in Ethiopia, and one company from the UAE brought a 30MW facility online late last year, tapping into hydropower near Addis Ababa. That project is one example of how outside firms are already scaling operations in the country.

For Ethiopia, this is a revenue play. Reports show the state power utility earned tens of millions of dollars by selling electricity to miners in a recent period, money that would otherwise not have been realized. Those receipts helped make the argument that mining can be folded into national plans for growth.

Some observers worry about tradeoffs. Mining uses lots of equipment and steady power. That can crowd out industrial customers if not managed well. It can also tie a portion of the grid to a business whose income swings with Bitcoin prices.

Still, the government says it wants a partner to reduce these risks and to share expertise so the country benefits more directly.

What Comes Next

Finding the right partner will take time. Reports list interest from firms across the Middle East and Asia, and the government will need to balance foreign deals with local priorities.

The plan also sits inside the wider Digital Ethiopia 2030 effort, which links technology projects to economic goals.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Trader Cryptollica (@Cryptollica) is arguing that an old relative-value signal is “back” in crypto markets, pointing to the DOGE/NVIDIA ratio and an unusually depressed Dogecoin RSI reading as evidence that capital could rotate from AI-linked equities into high-beta meme coins.

Dogecoin Vs. Nvidia: Rotation Incoming?

In a post on X, Cryptollica said the DOGE/NVIDIA chart has returned to a long-term support zone that previously preceded outsized Dogecoin outperformance versus Nvidia in prior cycles. “THE SIGNAL IS BACK. IT’S HAPPENING AGAIN (2017… 2021… NOW),” the trader wrote.

“The last two times this specific signal flashed on the DOGE/NVIDIA chart, we saw the biggest wealth transfer in history. The crowd is chasing the AI top. The algorithm is loading the Meme bottom. (Altcoin bottom).”

The core claim is less about Dogecoin in isolation and more about positioning on a ratio between what Cryptollica framed as two cultural extremes: “You are watching the wrong chart. This is the ratio of ‘The World’s Most Valuable Company’ (AI) vs. ‘The World’s Most Famous Meme’.” From that framing, the trader leans into a cycle-rhymes narrative, asserting that the ratio has repeatedly found channel support before a DOGE-led surge.

“Structure is repeating history,” Cryptollica wrote, attaching specific historical comparisons. “2017: Ratio hit channel support – DOGE outperformed NVDA by 100x. 2021: Ratio hit channel support – DOGE outperformed NVDA by 50x. NOW: We are back at the exact same support line.”

The posts also attach a broader liquidity-rotation story that has circulated in various forms across risk markets: when one trade stops working, capital seeks the next high-beta outlet: “When the AI Bubble exhales, that liquidity doesn’t vanish. It rotates into High-Beta Speculation,” the trader wrote. “The crowd is buying NVDA at the top. The algorithm is positioning for the DOGE reversal.”

Is Dogecoin An ‘Epic Buying Opportunity’?

In another post, Cryptollica shifted from the ratio to Dogecoin’s weekly momentum indicator, sharing a second chart highlighting RSI levels and labeling prior cycle lows. “Here you are witnessing an opportunity that only comes around once every 12 years,” the trader wrote. “Over the past 12 years (2014–2026), Dogecoin’s RSI has dropped this low only 4 times. Every single one was an epic buying opportunity.”

The post describes those four moments as a sequence of cycle bottoms, including an “all-time low” first cycle bottom, a “cycle bottom + COVID crash,” a “last cycle bottom,” and “RIGHT NOW!” Cryptollica concluded with a blunt decision frame: “Math or emotions — which one decides for you?”

While neither post includes an explicit price target, the analyst said in early December that he expects Dogecoin to reach $1.30 over the medium term, citing a parallel channel top on the 3-day DOGE/USD chart.

At press time, DOGE traded at $0.12581.

Bitcoin is trying to hold above the $91,000 level as the market searches for support, but demand remains fragile after weeks of volatility. While the recent decline has pressured sentiment, a CryptoQuant report suggests January is still shaping up as a recovery phase rather than a full breakdown. The analysis points to cautious optimism driven by institutional and whale-level accumulation, while retail participation remains hesitant and risk-averse.

According to Binance-related data, Bitcoin’s spot price action and funding rates have started to diverge in early 2026, signaling a spot-driven market environment. This setup is often viewed as constructive because it implies the latest move is being supported more by real spot buying than by excessive leverage in derivatives. In practice, a spot-led trend tends to reduce the risk of sudden liquidation cascades, which have recently amplified downside moves across the crypto market.

CryptoQuant notes that spot-driven conditions can also create more durable rallies, since they attract organic inflows and allow price to climb without relying on unstable speculative positioning. Historical comparisons to the 2021 and 2024 cycles show similar divergences between spot strength and muted funding rates often preceded extended upside expansions, ranging from 20% to 50%.

Is the Four-Year Bitcoin Cycle Breaking Down?

The CryptoQuant report raises a bigger question that many investors are now debating: is the traditional four-year Bitcoin cycle starting to fade? As the market matures, analysts argue that the old post-halving pattern may no longer apply in the same way. Since 2024, spot Bitcoin ETFs and corporate treasuries have been absorbing a growing share of supply, potentially creating steadier demand and reducing the boom-and-bust dynamics that defined prior cycles.

This argument gained traction in 2025. Despite being a post-halving year, Bitcoin failed to deliver the type of parabolic rally seen in previous cycles, while altcoins also struggled to produce a true “altseason.” That divergence has led some analysts to conclude that halvings are becoming less dominant as a driver, especially now that Bitcoin trades as a $2T+ macro asset.

Instead, market direction may be increasingly shaped by global liquidity conditions, including Federal Reserve policy, M2 growth, geopolitical risk, and large-scale institutional flows. Analysts like Raoul Pal have framed this as a shift toward longer liquidity cycles that could last five years or more, reinforcing the idea that the four-year framework may be outdated.

The report also highlights Binance as a critical reference point. Historically favored by whales, Binance remains a major leading indicator for broader crypto market positioning and flows.

Bitcoin Weekly Chart Signals Fragile Recovery

Bitcoin is attempting to stabilize after weeks of heavy selling pressure, but the weekly structure still reflects a market fighting to reclaim lost ground. BTC is trading near $91,075 after printing a sharp weekly pullback, reinforcing that volatility remains elevated even as price tries to base. The recent rebound from the sub-$85,000 region shows buyers stepping in aggressively, yet the recovery still looks fragile while broader macro uncertainty keeps risk appetite limited across crypto.

From a technical perspective, Bitcoin is hovering around the zone where previous support has flipped into resistance. Price is currently sitting near the rising 100-week moving average (green), which is acting as a key pivot for bulls. Holding above this level would signal that demand is strong enough to absorb supply during dips. However, the 50-week moving average (blue) has rolled over and remains above price, highlighting that the broader trend has not fully reset bullish momentum.

The 200-week moving average (red) continues to trend higher far below current levels, confirming the long-term uptrend remains intact. For now, the market likely needs a clean weekly reclaim above $95,000 to shift sentiment. Until then, this bounce risks being treated as corrective rather than trend-confirming.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com 

Rumors of a large-scale XRP purchase by the world’s largest asset manager, BlackRock, have captured the attention of the crypto world this week. Screenshots circulating on X suggest that the global investment company had invested over a billion dollars in the altcoin, sparking both bullish excitement and skepticism across the crypto community.

BlackRock’s Rumored $1.85 Billion XRP Bet

The frenzy began when several popular crypto influencers, including The Crypto Bull, shared a post and portfolio screenshot claiming that BlackRock had added $1.85 billion worth of XRP to its already substantial crypto holdings. Given BlackRock’s significant influence in the crypto space, the idea that the asset manager had invested in XRP seemed like a major signal for institutional adoption of the cryptocurrency. 

The rumors triggered a wave of speculation about the token, with some market participants viewing the alleged purchase as extremely bullish. A closer examination of BlackRock’s actual portfolio, however, shows that the reports were unfounded and lacked any evidence to support them. 

Data from Arkham Intelligence, a blockchain analytics company, revealed that, contrary to expectations, BlackRock holds just 5.267 XRP, valued at just $10.32—a far cry from the acclaimed $1.85 billion in holdings. The data also showed that the asset manager held the majority of its holdings in Bitcoin and Ethereum. BlackRock’s total crypto portfolio is estimated at $82.1 billion, including 784,424 BTC valued at $71.31 billion, 3.494 million ETH worth approximately $10.8 billion, and other assets. 

Investigations also revealed that the original screenshots, which showed BlackRock owning 911.76 million XRP, had been edited to exaggerate the asset manager’s holdings. This misrepresentation created a temporary buzz, but did not reflect any real investment in the altcoin by the firm. 

Despite the false alarm, the incident highlights how quickly misinformation can spread in the crypto space, especially when shared by crypto influencers with thousands of followers. The Crypto Bull’s post drew a variety of reactions from the community.  Some questioned why XRP’s price had not moved if the reports were accurate, while others remained skeptical, and a few outrightly dismissed the claims. 

Rise Of Misinformation In The Crypto Space

False rumors have become a recurrent theme in the crypto world, and the latest incident with XRP and BlackRock is just one example. This is alson’t the first time false claims have been made about the token. Earlier this month, rumours of a potential Ripple partnership with Amazon spread across the community, sparking speculation about how such a collaboration could positively impact XRP’s price. 

Similarly, overly optimistic price forecasts can also contribute to misinformation. Some analysts have predicted that XRP could surge to $50,000, fueling unrealistic expectations for investors. In a market predominantly driven by speculation and volatility, it’s important for investors to verify sources and avoid making decisions based on unproven claims.

Bitcoin has slipped below the $92,000 level after a sharp decline that began on Sunday, signaling that downside pressure is still shaping market conditions. Despite the drop, bulls are trying to defend current levels and regain control, with many traders watching for a rebound that could restore confidence across the broader crypto market. The move comes at a sensitive moment, as risk appetite remains fragile and short-term volatility continues to shake out leveraged positioning.

Top analyst Darkfost highlighted that the market is now 109 days removed from Bitcoin’s last all-time high, placing the current drawdown into a wider cycle context. In previous major corrections, Bitcoin spent far longer in recovery mode, including 236 days between March 2024 and November, followed by another 154-day correction window between December 2024 and May 2025. Compared to those periods, the current pullback may still be early in its timeline, even if price action already feels aggressive.

What makes this correction stand out is the intensity of the pain across the market. Realized losses have stacked up, capitulation has been more visible, and short-term holders appear increasingly stressed, creating the sense that this decline is heavier than past resets. Even so, history suggests Bitcoin can remain in a choppy recovery phase for months without breaking the broader cycle structure.

Capitulation Builds, But the Cycle May Still Be Intact

Bitcoin’s recent decline has not been a “clean” pullback. Realized losses have stacked up, capitulation has looked aggressive, and short-term holders remain under heavy pressure as the market punishes late entries and weak conviction. Liquidation data has also shown how leverage has amplified the downside, with forced selling accelerating drops that might have otherwise played out more gradually. That backdrop is exactly why the correction feels so violent, even compared to past drawdowns.

However, Darkfost argues this phase still fits within the broader rhythm of Bitcoin’s cycle. His key point is that extended corrections are not unusual, even when they feel unusually painful in real time. From that perspective, the market could easily spend more months digesting losses and rebuilding positioning without signaling a full structural breakdown.

Where this cycle becomes more complex is the macro timing. Unlike previous cycles, Bitcoin’s post-bear all-time high and the halving narrative have overlapped with a new variable: ETF-driven demand. That shift changes how drawdowns develop, because deeper pools of institutional capital can absorb supply differently than retail-led rallies. If this institutional trend continues, Bitcoin may be transitioning into a structurally different market regime, with longer consolidations and less predictable “four-year cycle” behavior.

Bitcoin Slips Below Key Averages as Bulls Defend $90K Support

Bitcoin is back under pressure after failing to hold above the $92,000 zone, with the chart showing price sliding toward $91,300 as selling accelerates. The move keeps BTC trapped below major moving averages, reinforcing the idea that this rebound is still fragile and highly reactive to headline-driven volatility. After the January recovery attempt, the rejection near the descending resistance structure highlights that sellers remain active on rallies, limiting bullish follow-through.

Technically, the market continues to trade beneath the 50-day and 100-day trend lines, while the longer-term averages remain overhead, acting as dynamic resistance. This structure suggests BTC is still in a corrective phase rather than a confirmed trend reversal, despite short-term optimism earlier this month. Volume also shows a lack of sustained demand expansion, supporting the view that buyers are defending levels, but not fully regaining control.

The $90,000–$88,000 range now stands out as a critical support area, as it has acted as a base during recent consolidation. A clean breakdown below it could reopen downside risk toward the December lows, while a hold could keep the market building a recovery structure. For bulls, the first step is stabilizing above $92,000 again, then reclaiming the mid-$90,000s to shift momentum back in their favor.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com 

Ethereum’s network has been buzzing. Blocks are full, wallets show new activity, and on-chain counters are ticking up fast. But not all of that motion looks like real people using the chain.

Address Poisoning On The Spotlight

In a recent blog post, researcher Andrey Sergeenkov warned that a recent Ethereum upgrade is being exploited to send tiny transactions that create misleading wallet history entries, a tactic known as address poisoning.

According to the expert, a big slice of the traffic may be the result of “dusting” or address poisoning attacks. Small, almost worthless transfers — sometimes less than a dollar — are being sent to a wide range of addresses.

Record-high Ethereum activity that everyone’s celebrating is an address poisoning attack.

– Over $740K already stolen, and growing – This became possible thanks to the Fusaka upgrade – This attack is ongoing right nowhttps://t.co/cqoEvqttQd

— Andrey Sergeenkov (@Nikopolos) January 19, 2026

These tiny transfers create fake-looking entries in a wallet’s history. People who skim their recent transactions or copy addresses from a short list of past contacts can be tricked into sending funds to a scammer by mistake. It is a basic trick that gets more power when fees fall.

Why It Happened

Reports say that after recent updates and lower average gas costs, sending millions of tiny transactions became affordable. When fees drop, attackers can spray dust across large numbers of wallets and run follow-up scams at scale.

The tactic uses two steps: first, make a history entry that looks like a real counterparty; second, hope a user copies that wrong entry. Some attacks aim to deanonymize users, while others are pure bait to steal funds later.

 

Simple Mistakes With Big Consequences

An Ethereum wallet owner might glance at a list and use the wrong address. Or they might be prompted by a message that seems to match a past transfer. Either way, if funds are sent to the attacker, those funds are usually gone.

Reports estimate that hundreds of thousands of dollars have been siphoned from victims who fell for different versions of this trick. The sums are not always massive per case, but they add up when many victims are targeted.

Small Transfers From Strange Addresses

Look for small incoming transfers from addresses you do not recognize, especially when those transfers appear in large batches. Watch for identical token amounts or for many transfers with the same memo or pattern.

Wallets that show sudden clusters of tiny token receipts are worth extra caution. Security tools and some wallets can hide tiny transfers or warn users about unusual incoming dust. Use those features if they are available.

What Experts Advise

Based on reports, researchers urge people to verify the full address they are sending to, not just the start or end of it. Use address book features, QR codes, or trusted contacts to confirm destinations.

Avoid copying addresses from a short recent-history view. If you receive a small, unexpected deposit, take it as a warning sign, not an invitation.

Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView

On Tuesday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed plans for the country’s Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR), coinciding with a sharp decline in BTC and the overall cryptocurrency market. 

All Seized Bitcoin To Be Held In Strategic Reserve

In a discussion about the government’s approach to BTC and the recent seizures of the cryptocurrency, Bessent reassured the public that the administration would cease all sales of seized Bitcoin. 

Instead of auctioning off these assets, the government plans to add the seized Bitcoin to the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, which was set up in March last year by President Donald Trump’s administration. 

This decision, however, did little to mitigate BTC’s plummet on Tuesday, as the lack of any plans to purchase additional coins from the market contributed to continued downward pressure on prices. 

Bessent elaborated that the initiative is part of a broader strategy aimed at fostering digital asset innovation within the United States while maintaining federal oversight of confiscated cryptocurrencies. 

“This administration’s policy is to add seized Bitcoin to our digital asset reserve,” Bessent stated, marking a decisive shift in the government’s handling of Bitcoin assets.

Political Climate Leads To $215 Billion Crypto Market Dip

Bitcoin has experienced a decline of nearly $5,800—coinciding with political tensions after President Trump hinted at a 10% tariff on the European Union (EU) in an attempt to compel Denmark to sell Greenland. 

This geopolitical maneuver has not only affected Bitcoin but has also resulted in a staggering loss of approximately $215 billion in total market capitalization across the crypto sector.

Market analyst Ted Pillows warned that BTC must maintain its position above the $89,000 mark. He expressed that failing to hold this level would signal the end of the short-term upward trend, further complicating an already tumultuous condition for the cryptocurrency.

When writing, BTC still holds above the key level outlined by Pillows at $89,497, but has declined by 3.7% in the last 24 hours. 

Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com

Bitcoin’s dominance over the broader crypto market has become the main reference point for traders trying to determine when an altcoin season will finally take shape. At the moment, Bitcoin still controls close to 60% of the total market, and this has so far kept any meaningful altcoin breakout at bay.

However, according to a Bitcoin analyst, history suggests that once this balance begins to shift, the transition into altcoin season tends to happen quickly, often playing out within a tight one-to-two-month timeframe.

Why Bitcoin Dominance Matters For Altcoin Season

In his analysis, the analyst explained that Bitcoin dominance, also known as BTC.D, is an important factor in determining when capital begins rotating into altcoins. BTC dominance measures Bitcoin’s share of the total crypto market capitalization, and declines in this metric have historically coincided with explosive altcoin rallies. At the time of writing, CoinMarketCap puts the Bitcoin dominance at 59%.

Looking back at 2017, the BTC.D chart shows Bitcoin’s dominance falling very quickly from around 96% in early March to about 60% by mid-May. That drop was the playout of one of the most aggressive altcoin rallies the market has ever seen. 

A similar pattern played out in 2021, when BTC dominance fell from about 60% in early April to near 40% by mid-May. That move coincided with another powerful altcoin expansion, pushing Ethereum and several other major altcoins to new all-time highs. Many of those peaks, particularly among meme coins such as Dogecoin and Shiba Inu, are unbroken to this day.

The most important takeaway from both cycles, according to the analyst, is the speed of the move. In each case, it took just one to two months for a full-blown altcoin season to unfold once Bitcoin dominance began rolling over decisively.

BTC’s Next Move Could Decide Everything

The analyst notes that many investors underestimate how quickly this transition can happen. After waiting through multiple years of accumulation and consolidation, market participants often grow impatient just before the final stage. Historically, however, altcoin season has tended to play out very quickly once conditions align, not gradually over many months. Therefore, investors waiting for an altcoin season can still hold on for that move and not lose focus.

He also pointed to macro signals supporting a risk-on environment, referencing strength in assets such as small-cap equities, gold, and silver hitting all-time highs. These conditions are lining up for capital flowing into higher-beta assets once confidence returns.

Nonetheless, altcoins cannot sustain a true breakout without BTC first making a convincing move. If Bitcoin fails to push to a new all-time high, altcoins may see only short-lived relief rallies. On the other hand, a new Bitcoin all-time high could act as the deciding factor that brings retail traders back into the market and eventually leads to FOMO plus a breakout altcoin season.

In the current market structure, the Ethereum price continues to move in a separate direction from its network’s performance and fundamentals. While ETH’s price struggles to initiate a major rally, the network is performing at a remarkable pace, breaking past prior all-time highs in most aspects of the blockchain, such as staking.

More Ethereum Getting Locked Away

Even in the ongoing crypto volatile landscape, the supply dynamics of Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency asset, are undergoing a quiet but meaningful shift. Currently, ETH staking is experiencing exponential growth, leading to a tightening supply as more ETH gets locked away.

Milk Road, a market expert, stated that ETH is becoming intentionally harder to access in the midst of the strong growth in its staking ecosystem. The chart shared by Milk Road shows that ETH staking has now hit a new all-time high, with millions of the altcoin presently scheduled to be locked away.

While more tokens are being locked into validator contracts, an increasing percentage of Ethereum’s total supply is essentially taken out of daily circulation. The supply of ETH taken by staking has never been this high, snatching over 30% of the entire supply in circulation. 

This points to growing confidence in staking as a yield strategy in the long term and a deeper commitment to the security offered by the network. Meanwhile, the Ethereum network is now secured by approximately $120 billion worth of staked ETH.

In addition to being removed from active circulation, Milk Road highlighted that this supply is also taken off crypto exchanges. When staking rises, and supply shrinks, Mlik Road stated that this trend is a positive signal for price appreciation in the long term, reinforcing the expert’s conviction in ETH to move higher. 

A Sharp Rise In ETH’s Network Activity To New Highs

On-chain activity has experienced a similar growth, rising to historical levels. Crypto Tice reported that Ethereum network activity is at an all-time high, highlighting the blockchain’s rising function as the layer of settlement for cryptocurrency and financial operations.

The network growth is observed among new wallet addresses, of which more than 393,000 new wallets were created in a single day, reaching the highest level ever recorded for the 7-day average of daily wallet creation. Such an increase in activity is noteworthy not only for its magnitude but also for its tenacity, occurring despite the continued volatility of the market.

It is worth noting that these types of growth are subtle as they do not show up at the tops, and momentum is gradually picking up again. However, when it does show up, it is accompanied by a quiet spike in adoption beneath the surface; a clear instance of how increasing demands follow an expansion in usage.

At the time of writing, the ETH price was trading at $3,119, demonstrating a nearly 3% decline in the last 24 hours. Its trading volume is also showing bearish performance, dropping by more than 16% over the past day.

Crypto market expert, ChartNerd, has said that XRP’s recent flash crash could be a “blessing in disguise.” According to the analyst, the drawdown has placed the cryptocurrency at the exact sell-side liquidity the analyst mentioned in previous reports, increasing the potential for a bullish takeover even as market dynamics remain uncertain and weak. 

Why The XRP Crash Could Be A Blessing In Disguise

In an X post on January 9, ChartNerd suggested that the recent sell-off that saw the XRP price crash by more than 4.6% this week could end up working in the market’s favor. He said the decline may be a “huge” blessing in disguise, as it has sent the price directly into a long-anticipated sell-side liquidity zone. 

The analyst shared a chart highlighting the sell-side liquidity pocket around the $1.8 level on the monthly heatmap. Rather than signaling weakness, ChartNerd indicated XRP’s latest move aligned with areas where bulls have consistently shown interest. He noted that this liquidity zone had acted as a key support area for the altcoin for approximately 13 months, with bulls repeatedly stepping in to prevent deeper downside. 

Notably, XRP experienced a major flash crash this week, sending its price tumbling from above $2 to below $1.95. Following its earlier January high near $2.49, the cryptocurrency also declined sharply, now settling into this highlighted liquidity band. On the heatmap, the area around $1.80 appears to be the most intense and concentrated, reflecting strong historical engagement and repeated price reactions. 

ChartNerd has characterized XRP’s retest of sell-side liquidity as a “clarity response” rather than a structural breakdown. Typically, a decline of this magnitude can trigger fear and uncertainty in the market about a cryptocurrency’s next move. However, ChartNerd has said that he is now closely monitoring how the market responds to this new reaction. His analysis offers hope that the recent crash may ultimately benefit investors by establishing a clearer directional bias, rather than simply being a destructive sell-off that undermines its broader structure.  

While the analyst’s report adds significant context to XRP’s latest move, community members have responded with their own forecasts. Some believe that the recent crash into sell-side liquidity could trigger another breakdown to $1.20, which would represent a more than 38% drop from current levels around $1.96. Others, however, remain relatively bullish, opting to wait and see how the market reacts. 

Price Stabilizes After Crash

This week, XRP gave up gains that had fueled a major recovery earlier this year. While hovering around $2, XRP repeatedly tested upper resistance levels but failed to break out to the upside. Although the recent decline pushed it back underneath $2, its price has since stabilized and is now consolidating above $1.95. 

Interestingly, the pullback has been accompanied by a significant increase in trading volume. Recent reports reveal that XRP’s trading activity spiked across several markets despite its struggling price.