Из жизни альткоинов

South Korean officials have unveiled a major international cryptocurrency crime ring involved in laundering approximately 150 billion won, equivalent to around $101.7 million, through an unauthorized foreign exchange scheme. 

The Korea Customs Service (KCS) announced on Monday that three Chinese nationals have been referred to prosecution for purported violations of the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act.

Large-Scale Cryptocurrency Laundering Scheme

Local media reports have pointed out that between September 2021 and June of last year, the suspects allegedly laundered their funds by allegedly manipulating both domestic and international cryptocurrency accounts in conjunction with Korean bank accounts. 

According to the KCS, the criminal activities were disguised as legitimate expenses, including cosmetic surgery fees for foreigners and educational costs for students studying abroad.

The accused ring utilized a complex operation to evade scrutiny from financial authorities. They reportedly bought crypto in multiple countries, transferred the assets to digital wallets in South Korea, converted them into Korean won, and funneled the money through various local bank accounts to further conceal their operations.

This action comes as South Korea is actively debating a new regulatory framework for its crypto market. Despite the growing popularity of digital assets as a common investment among local households, authorities have recently intensified their oversight on cryptocurrency transactions. 

South Korea Takes New Regulatory Steps

In a move towards greater regulation, the government revealed plans to broaden its anti-money laundering (AML) framework and emphasized the implementation of the Travel Rule—a compliance measure that requires sharing information on crypto transfers, effective even for transactions below 1 million won (approximately $680).

In addition to addressing money laundering concerns, the South Korean government outlined its 2026 Economic Growth Strategy, which includes plans to introduce Bitcoin (BTC) Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) this year. 

This announcement marks a significant policy shift, as cryptocurrency-based exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have been banned in South Korea since 2017. 

Despite reaffirming its position in 2024, post the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) approval of similar products, the South Korean government has now pointed to the success of crypto funds in the US and Hong Kong as influencing factors for this change.

FSC Fast-Tracks Stablecoin Legislation

The country’s Financial Services Commission (FSC) is also set to expedite the next phase of its digital asset legislation this quarter, aiming to establish a clear regulatory framework for stablecoins. 

While the Second Phase of the Virtual Asset User Protection Act has faced delays until early 2026 due to disagreements between the FSC and the Bank of Korea (BOK), major policy decisions have been made. 

As reported by Bitcoinist, these will include investor protection measures like no-fault liability for cryptocurrency operators and safeguards that separate bankruptcy risks for stablecoin issuers.

South Korea is also ready to lift its longstanding ban on institutional cryptocurrency trading, with anticipations of this initiative commencing later this year. Reports suggest that the FSC may impose limitations on corporate cryptocurrency investments, restricting them to 5% of a company’s equity capital.

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

Основатель венчурной компании Draper Associates Тим Дрейпер (Tim Draper) в интервью с ведущим подкаста Divot Дереком Андерсеном (Derek Andersen) сделал смелый прогноз по биткоину, предположив, что через шесть месяцев первая криптовалюта достигнет $250 000.

Власти Бермудских островов намерены сформировать первую национальную экономику, полностью работающую на блокчейне, и в этом правительству помогут американские компании Coinbase и Circle.

A Hong Kong industry group has urged the city’s regulators to ease aspects of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) crypto reporting rules ahead of its implementation.

Association Pushes To Soften CARF Requirements

On Monday, the Hong Kong Securities & Futures Professionals Association (HKSFPA) released a response to the implementation of the OECD’s Crypto Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) and the related amendments made to Hong Kong’s Common Reporting Standard (CRS).

In their official response, the association shared its concerns about certain elements of the CARF and CRS amendments, warning that they could create operational and liability risks for market participants.

Notably, the HKSFPA affirmed that it mostly supports the proposals, but urged regulators to ease the record-keeping requirements for dissolved entities. “We generally agree with the six-year retention period to align with existing inland revenue and CRS standards,” they explained, “but we have concerns regarding the obligations placed on individuals post-dissolution.”

The industry group argued that holding directors or principal officers personally liable for record-keeping after dissolution poses significant practical challenges, noting that former officers of dissolved companies may lack the resources, infrastructure, and legal standing to maintain sensitive personal data of former clients.

As a result, they suggested the government “allow for the appointment of a designated third-party custodian (such as a liquidator or a licensed corporate service provider) to fulfill this obligation, rather than placing indefinite personal liability and logistical burden on former individual officers.”

Moreover, the association also cautioned that the proposed uncapped per-account penalties for minor technical errors. They asserted that this could lead to “disproportionately astronomical fines for systemic software errors affecting thousands of accounts where there was no intent to defraud.”

To solve this, they proposed a “reasonable cap” on total penalties for unintentional administrative errors or first-time offenses to ensure that the per-account calculation “is reserved for cases of willful negligence or intentional evasion.”

Additionally, the group suggested a “lite” registration or a simplified annual declaration process for Reporting Crypto-Asset Service Providers (RCASPs) that anticipate filing Nil Returns, to reduce administrative costs while still satisfying the Inland Revenue Department’s oversight requirements.

Hong Kong’s Crypto Hub Efforts

Notably, Hong Kong is among the 76 markets committed to implementing the upcoming crypto reporting framework, which is the OECD’s new global standard for exchanging tax information on crypto assets.

The CARF is designed to prevent tax evasion by bringing crypto users across borders under global tax transparency rules, similar to the OECD’s existing CRS for traditional finance. Hong Kong will be among the 27 jurisdictions that will begin their first cross-border exchanges of crypto reporting data in 2028.

Over the past few years, Hong Kong financial authorities have been actively working to develop a comprehensive framework that supports the expansion of the digital assets industry, part of its strategy to become a leading crypto hub in the world.

As reported by Bitcoinist, the city is exploring rules to allow insurance companies to invest in cryptocurrencies and the infrastructure sector. The Hong Kong Insurance Authority recently proposed a framework that could channel insurance capital into cryptocurrencies and stablecoins.

Moreover, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) is expected to grant the first batch of stablecoin issuer licenses in the first few months of the year. The HKMA enacted the Stablecoins Ordinance in August, which directs any individual or entity seeking to issue a stablecoin in Hong Kong, or any Hong Kong Dollar-pegged token, to obtain a license from the regulator.

Multiple companies have applied for the license, with over 30 applications filed in 2025, including logistics technology firm Reitar Logtech and the overseas arm of Chinese mainland financial technology giant Ant Group.

Владелец состояния в биткоинах на сумму $85 млн впервые за 13 лет перевел 909 BTC на другой кошелек.

Костромчанка решила инвестировать в цифровые активы для получения дополнительного дохода, однако попытка заработать на криптовалютах обошлась женщине в 1,1 млн рублей.

On Monday, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) unveiled its latest plan to develop a tokenized securities platform, utilizing blockchain technology to facilitate 24/7 stock trading, now seeking regulatory approval.

New Digital Trading Venue At NYSE

According to Monday’s announcement, the proposed digital platform will offer a tokenized trading experience that includes around-the-clock operations, instant settlements, dollar-sized orders, and stablecoin (dollar-pegged cryptocurrencies) funding options. 

By integrating the NYSE’s “advanced Pillar matching engine” with blockchain-based post-trade systems, the firm disclosed that the new platform will support multiple chains for settlement and custody, streamlining the trading process significantly.

Once regulatory approvals are secured, this platform will reportedly create a new venue at the NYSE for trading tokenized shares. These shares will not only be fungible with traditional securities but will also comprise tokens that are issued natively as digital assets. 

Interestingly, tokenized shareholders will retain their rights, including eligibility for dividends and participation in company governance, much like traditional shareholders. The trading venue aims to align with established market structure principles and will provide non-discriminatory access to all qualified broker-dealers.

The launch of this tokenized securities platform is part of the Intercontinental Exchange’s (ICE) broader digital strategy, which includes preparing its clearing infrastructure for continuous trading and potentially integrating tokenized collateral. 

Competition Heats Up

ICE is collaborating with major financial institutions like BNY Mellon and Citigroup to facilitate tokenized deposits across its clearinghouses. This effort will help clearing members manage funds and fulfill margin requirements outside of regular banking hours.

Lynn Martin, President of NYSE Group, emphasized the significance and innovation surrounding this development, stating: 

For more than two centuries, the NYSE has transformed the way markets operate. We are leading the industry toward fully on-chain solutions grounded in unmatched protections and high regulatory standards.

The company’s President further stated that the New York Stock Exchange aims to combine trust with “state-of-the-art technology,” effectively reinventing market infrastructure to meet the evolving demands of a digital future.

Michael Blaugrund, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at the Intercontinental Exchange, echoed Martin’s sentiment, noting: 

Since its founding, ICE has propelled markets from analog to digital. Supporting tokenized securities is a pivotal step in our strategy to operate on-chain market infrastructure for trading, settlement, custody, and capital formation in the new era of global finance.

In parallel to these developments, the NYSE’s main competitor, Nasdaq, along with the CME Group, has intensified efforts to provide institutional investors with a regulated mechanism to measure cryptocurrency markets. 

They recently reintroduced the Nasdaq Crypto Index, renamed as the Nasdaq-CME Crypto Index (NCI), designed to support products such as exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and structured funds. This move aims to establish clearer rules and governance for index-based cryptocurrency exposure.

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

Seoul investigators say they have disrupted a secret money-transfer network that moved roughly 150 billion won—about $102 million—into and out of South Korea using a mix of mobile payment apps and cryptocurrencies.

Reports say three people have been formally accused under the country’s foreign exchange laws after a probe that traced the scheme over several years.

How Money Moved Through Apps

According to the Korea Customs Service, the group collected money from customers using platforms like WeChat Pay and Alipay, then used those funds to buy virtual coins abroad.

Those coins were shifted into digital wallets in Korea and converted to Korean won through many bank accounts.

The pattern was basic and careful. Cash or mobile transfers arrived from overseas. Crypto purchases followed in multiple countries to avoid any one regulator seeing the full trail.

Finally, the funds were funneled into local accounts under different names. This took place over a long window, from September of 2021 until June of last year, investigators say.

Covering Tracks With Everyday Costs

According to reports, the ring hid the origin of money by dressing transfers up as ordinary expenses — payments for cosmetic surgery, fees for overseas study, and trade-related charges. Those labels made the flows look normal on paper and helped the group slip past routine checks.

Bank transfers were layered with small, seemingly legitimate payments. That made suspicious activity harder to spot until customs officers pieced together patterns across accounts and platforms.

At that point, the scope became clear: these were not isolated transfers but a linked series of transactions designed to wash large sums.

What Authorities Recovered

Investigators arrested and referred three Chinese nationals for prosecution, saying the suspects handled the bulk of the scheme’s operations.

Records show almost 150 billion won was moved in the period under review. Authorities have opened cases under the foreign exchange transactions law and are seeking to trace the remaining funds.

The case underlines how easy it can be for cross-border payment tools and crypto markets to be used together.

Regulators in Korea have been tightening rules for both mobile wallets and exchanges in recent months, and courts have allowed seizures of crypto assets in criminal probes. That legal backdrop helped the customs office act when the patterns surfaced.

Featured image from Dao Insights, chart from TradingView

Bitcoin saw a sharp pullback this week, dropping below the $92,500 mark after failing to hold above $95,500. While the decline reignited bear market fears across crypto, bulls are now trying to stabilize price and defend the current range before selling pressure accelerates further. The move came as markets reacted to renewed macro uncertainty, with tariff headlines out of Europe adding fresh risk-off pressure across global assets.

The latest narrative centers on potential EU retaliatory measures against the United States, including tariffs and trade restrictions aimed at countering political threats tied to NATO tensions. Even without immediate implementation, the headlines were enough to tighten liquidity and trigger fast deleveraging, pushing Bitcoin lower as traders reduced risk exposure.

Despite the drop, analyst MorenoDV argues the market is not collapsing into a cycle end, but instead entering a phase of “risk redistribution.” His view is based on Bitcoin’s Realized Price by UTXO age bands, a framework that helps map where psychological pressure is building across different holder groups. Rather than tracking trend direction, the metric highlights which cohorts are comfortable, which are underwater, and where latent selling pressure could emerge.

In MorenoDV’s view, Bitcoin is rotating stress between cohorts, not breaking structurally.

Realized Price Bands Show Where Bitcoin’s Stress Is Building

Bitcoin’s current drawdown is not creating uniform stress across the market. Instead, pressure is building unevenly across different holder cohorts, based on their realized price levels. In the current setup, spot price sits near $95,583, while the 1w–1m cohort realized price is $89,255 and the 1m–3m cohort is $93,504.

That means newer short-term holders are still in profit, which is an important stabilizing factor. When the most recent buyers are rewarded rather than punished, downside follow-through tends to weaken, because fear does not compound at the margin.

However, the pressure is concentrated in older short-term cohorts. The 3m–6m realized price stands at $114,808, and the 6m–12m cohort sits near $100,748, placing both groups underwater. This suggests Bitcoin has not been aggressively redistributed at lower levels, since a large portion of mid-term holders remains trapped above spot. The market is showing discomfort, but not capitulation, with losses being absorbed through patience rather than forced selling.

If Bitcoin begins reclaiming the 6m–12m realized price, that cohort’s stress could ease quickly. Still, sustainability depends on psychology. Mid-term holders must view this phase as a temporary drawdown, not a structural breakdown. If that belief breaks, selling pressure can appear even stronger.

Bitcoin Slides Below Key Support As Bulls Defend the Range

Bitcoin is under pressure again after failing to hold above the mid-$95,000 zone, with price now trading near $93,000. The chart shows a sharp rejection from the recent local high, followed by a clean move lower that has erased a large portion of the latest rebound. This shift suggests that upside momentum remains fragile, even after the market briefly reclaimed higher levels earlier in January.

From a structure perspective, BTC is now back inside the broader consolidation range that formed after the late November sell-off. The recent bounce looked constructive at first, but the inability to sustain follow-through above resistance has brought sellers back into control. Volume has picked up on the decline, which typically reflects stronger conviction compared to slow pullbacks.

Bitcoin is also trading below its major moving averages on this timeframe, reinforcing the idea that the broader trend remains heavy until bulls reclaim key levels. In the near term, the market must hold support in the low-$92,000 to $93,000 region to avoid another liquidation-driven drop.

If bulls can stabilize price here, BTC may attempt another push toward $95,000. However, repeated rejections increase the risk of a deeper breakdown.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com 

On-chain data shows the Bitcoin Hashrate has continued to decline, with its 7-day average value hitting lows not seen since early September.

Bitcoin Hashrate Has Been Sliding Down

The Bitcoin “Hashrate” refers to a measure of the total amount of computing power that the miners as a whole have connected to the network. It’s denoted in units of hashes per second (H/s) or, more practically, in exahashes per second (EH/s). This indicator can be useful for gauging the sentiment shared by the miners. Growth in the network Hashrate can signal that this cohort is either responding to a period of profitability or expanding in anticipation of future price action. On the other hand, a decline can signal a weakening of sentiment.

As the chart below from Blockchain.com shows, the 7-day average value of the Bitcoin Hashrate has been following the latter kind of trajectory in recent months.

The Hashrate set a new all-time high (ATH) in mid-October, but miners moved to decommissioning power as the cryptocurrency’s price went through its bearish shift in that month. Recently, BTC has shown some recovery, but that doesn’t appear to have changed opinion among the miners, as the metric’s value has only continued to go down.

Currently, the 7-day average Bitcoin Hashrate is sitting at 978.8 EH/s, which is the lowest level since the first half of September. The recent low levels are on a path to affect another BTC-network-related metric: the Difficulty. The Difficulty is a feature built into the blockchain that controls how hard it is for miners to mine blocks. This metric automatically changes its value about every two weeks based on how fast miners have been performing their duty since the last adjustment.

Satoshi coded in a simple rule for the network to follow: block time should converge to 10 minutes. If miners take an average time faster than this to find a block, the chain raises its Difficulty in the next adjustment. Similarly, a decrease instead happens if the validators are slower at their job.

As miners have reduced their computing power over the last few months, their pace has been going down, and the network has been adjusting the Difficulty lower.

With the Hashrate decline only continuing recently, the network is once again moving toward another relaxation in Difficulty, as data from CoinWarz suggests.

The average Bitcoin block time has stood at 10.43 minutes since the last adjustment, which is notably slower than the standard rate. As a result, the network is estimated to reduce the Difficulty by 4.15%.

With the adjustment still being a few days away, however, this figure could change depending on whether miners expand or decommission in the coming days.

BTC Price

At the time of writing, Bitcoin is floating around $93,000, up 2.5% in the last seven days.

RippleX, the developer arm of Ripple, is prototyping zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) capabilities for the XRP Ledger (XRPL), positioning the technology as a route to “programmable privacy,” trust-minimized interoperability, and a scaling model that pushes heavy computation to layer-2 systems while keeping XRPL as the settlement layer.

In Episode 9 of Ripple’s “Onchain Economy” video series, Aanchal Malhotra, Ph.D., Head of Research at RippleX, framed ZK enablement as a near-term research priority and a long-horizon bet on XRPL’s competitiveness. “I would really like to see an XRP ledger with zero knowledge proof technology enabled. There are so many use cases. There are so many innovative applications that we can build using this technology. So my number one priority right now is to work on enabling zero knowledge proofs on XRP ledger,” Malhotra said.

What Ripple Is Planning With ZK-Proofs

Malhotra also stressed that integrating modern ZK systems into XRPL is not a simple plug-in exercise. “We are getting past the exploration phase of zero knowledge technologies. When the XRP ledger was built, these technologies were not even around. So it takes a while. We cannot just use any off-the-shelf solution. It takes a while for us to figure out the specifics of ZK technology to integrate with XRP ledger,” she said, describing the work as moving from exploratory research into prototyping.

That prototyping effort, according to RippleX’s Head of Research, is taking a hybrid form. Some components of ZK proofs would be implemented “natively for better performance,” while another portion would sit in a “programmability layer” to let developers choose proving systems and build applications tuned to their requirements.

The goal, she indicated, is a design that balances throughput and developer flexibility rather than forcing a single ZK stack across all use cases. “We are at the stage of prototyping zero knowledge proof,” Malhotra said, adding that the approach is intended to support “different applications [and] different proving systems.”

Much of Malhotra’s framing centered on privacy, specifically, a version that can satisfy compliance and business constraints without collapsing into blanket opacity. “In my opinion, zero knowledge proofs is a very very powerful tool. When we talk about privacy, people think about 100% privacy where everything is hidden […] and those things could be used in nefarious ways,” she said.

“However, what blockchains enable is something called programmable privacy […] you can do selective disclosure meaning disclose the relevant information to third parties for example auditors for compliance purposes.” In her example, a user could prove they are above a threshold, such as being over 18, without revealing the underlying data like an exact age.

Malhotra also pointed to interoperability as a domain where ZK techniques could reduce reliance on trusted intermediaries. She characterized bridges as “fraught with technical challenges,” with trust being the biggest: today’s designs often depend on third parties, federators, or other centralized structures. “What zero knowledge proofs provide is trustlessness. It provides verifiability. So you do not have to trust a third party. Instead what you trust in is cryptography,” she said.

Zero-knowledge proofs will drive breakthroughs in privacy and compute scalability.

Watch Episode 9 of the Onchain Economy: https://t.co/joOV5Uj7uU@aanchalmalhotre, Head of Research at RippleX, explains how zero-knowledge proofs enable programmable privacy on XRP, supporting… pic.twitter.com/oCSBYAitY6

— RippleX (@RippleXDev) January 18, 2026

On scaling, Malhotra described a model where ZK proofs help compress or externalize execution: layer-2 systems perform computation, then submit succinct proofs that can be verified on XRPL. That, in her telling, lets the base layer focus on settlement and proof verification rather than running every workload directly. The practical implication is an architecture where XRPL could support more complex applications without forcing all computation onto the L1.

At press time, XRP traded at $1.976.

Canaan Inc., a maker of crypto mining rigs, has been hit hard over the past year as its American Depositary Shares fell well below key thresholds.

Reports say the company received a written notice from Nasdaq after its ADS had closed under $1.00 for 30 consecutive business days, triggering a formal compliance process.

Minimum Bid Deadline

The exchange gave Canaan 180 calendar days to push its share price back above $1.00 for 10 straight trading days, a rule meant to keep listings on the Nasdaq Global Market.

Reports note this grace period ends on July 13, 2026, and that trading will continue while the company works to meet the threshold.

Drop Stings Investors

Canaan’s stock has slid about 63% over the last 12 months, reflecting weak demand and broader stress in the crypto hardware sector.

Some market reports put the most recent close near $0.79 or roughly in that area, underlining how far the price has fallen.

Reports say part of the pressure comes from lower orders and a shift in computing demand, as some buyers explore AI hardware instead of mining rigs.

That change hit revenues and left the stock vulnerable. The company has faced similar trouble before; this is a repeat warning less than a year after a prior compliance notice.

Options On The Table

Company filings and market watchers say Canaan could try a reverse stock split to push the per-share price up quickly, or look for ways to boost sales and cash flow.

Either route has tradeoffs. A split can change share math but does not fix demand. Strengthening sales takes time and money.

Watch the daily closing price. If the ADS can close at or above 10 or more consecutive trading days at $1.00 or higher, Nasdaq will confirm compliance. If that does not happen by July 13, the company may face delisting or seek another extension through Nasdaq procedures.

A Hard Road Ahead

Canaan still trades on Nasdaq for now. But the notice is a reminder that small shifts in demand and price can force big changes for hardware makers.

For holders, the path to safety is clear but not easy: the share price must climb and stay there. Reports say management will monitor the market and consider options to restore the listing standard.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Market analysts have often discussed the wealth-building potential of XRP, and a recent statement by a crypto pundit has renewed this conversation. According to Austin, owning 10,000 of the altcoin could position investors well ahead of the profit curve, underscoring his confidence in the cryptocurrency’s long-term growth potential. 

What Holding 10,000 XRP Means For Investors

Crypto expert and maxi, Austin (@Austin_XRPL), recently caused a stir on X by stating that owning 10,000 XRP essentially makes an investor “pre-rich.” His statement highlights the token’s significant growth over the past few years and its potential for further gains in the long term. 

Related Reading: Expert Predicts This Massive Move For XRP Within The Next 2 Years

Notably, the altcoin’s price has seen remarkable gains in recent years, particularly after its explosive surge in 2024. At the time, the token skyrocketed from $0.5 to more than $2, breaking out of its nearly seven-year downtrend. In 2025, its price approached its all-time high, peaking near $3.6. During that rally, market analysts attributed the surge to several factors, including the token’s regulatory clarity after Ripple’s win against the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the hype around XRP ETFs. 

Due to these developments, many analysts, including Austin, remain confident in XRP’s long-term outlook. As a long-time XRP advocate, Austin frequently emphasizes that holding the altcoin could become a life-changing decision for investors. In one of his posts on X, he even compared owning the coin to having a “golden ticket to generational wealth,” highlighting his optimism about the token’s future potential. 

In other posts, Austin has pointed out that XRP is being positioned at the center of the new global financial system. He stated that rather than worrying about whether its price can reach $5, investors should focus on its rails, which he believes could drive its value much higher over time.  

Additionally, Austin has expressed strong bullish support for Ripple’s recent banking license. He said this achievement “changes everything” and could transform the crypto company into a regulated financial institution. He also stated that when this happens, the token would stop being a mere “speculation” and transform into an “infrastructure.”

Analyst Says It Will Make More Millionaires Than Bitcoin Did

In a separate X post, Austin boldly declared that the altcoin has the potential to make more millionaires than Bitcoin ever did. Bitcoin, which began at just a few cents after its inception, eventually surged past $60,000 in 2021, creating hundreds of millionaires along the way. 

Related Reading: XRP Wave C Push On The Way: What Could Send Price Below $2?

XRP started under $0.01 and also grew dramatically, reaching an ATH of $3.84 in 2018. Although its price faced challenges during the legal battle with the SEC, the token still held strong over the years. If its momentum continues and even reaches the ambitious forecasts some analysts predict, such as a $10,000 surge, it could create significant wealth for long-time investors. However, whether it will surpass Bitcoin in making millionaires is yet to be seen.

XRP’s presence on Binance has undergone a dramatic contraction over the past year, with exchange-held reserves dropping by roughly 45%. This sharp decline has shifted attention away from short-term price fluctuations and toward a deeper structural change in how XRP supply is being managed on the world’s largest crypto exchange. The scale and persistence of this crash raise a central question: why is XRP disappearing from Binance, and what does this mean for the market going forward?

Binance’s XRP Reserves Collapse Signals A Structural Supply Shift

Over a twelve-month period, the value of XRP held on Binance fell from about $10.16 billion in mid-January 2025 to roughly $5.55 billion by mid-January 2026, according to on-chain data. This was not a sudden drain triggered by a single event. Instead, reserves declined through a steady sequence of withdrawals, with short-lived recoveries repeatedly followed by fresh outflows.

This pattern points to a deliberate and sustained move away from keeping XRP on the exchange. As Binance acts as a primary liquidity venue for XRP, such a steep contraction materially reduces the amount of supply readily available for trading. By early 2026, reserve levels had dropped close to yearly lows, confirming that the crash was not corrective but structural in nature.

The result is a tighter exchange-side supply environment. With fewer tokens sitting on Binance, the market loses a layer of immediate liquidity that typically absorbs selling activity. This reshaping of supply dynamics changes how price reacts to shifts in demand.

How XRP’s Price Behavior Connects To The Binance Crash

XRP’s price action during the reserve drawdown provides important context. Periods marked by accelerated outflows from Binance have historically aligned with price stabilization or subsequent upside moves. This relationship became especially clear in mid-2025, when a steep fall in exchange-held XRP coincided with a strong rally.

The underlying mechanism is straightforward. When exchange reserves shrink, selling pressure tends to ease because fewer tokens are positioned for rapid distribution. At the same time, XRP’s relatively stable price during the latest phase of reserve contraction suggests that holders are not exiting en masse but repositioning for longer-term exposure.

The continued crash in Binance’s XRP reserves implies that investors are favoring self-custody or long-term storage strategies. This behavior is commonly associated with accumulation phases rather than imminent sell-offs. As a result, any meaningful pickup in demand could have an outsized impact on XRP’s price due to the reduced supply available on the exchange.

While broader market conditions will still dictate direction, the 45% crash in Binance’s XRP reserves highlights a decisive shift in market structure. It suggests XRP is moving into a tighter supply phase, one that has historically created conditions favorable for stronger price responses when demand re-emerges.

Bullish sentiment is gradually returning to the broader cryptocurrency space, and Cardano (ADA) is seeing growing institutional interest and adoption. Even though its price remains in a consolidation phase, several moves are being made to showcase Cardano’s relevance in the global finance sector.

CME To Broaden Crypto Offering With Cardano Futures

One of the most recent announcements making the headlines in the cryptocurrency sector is the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) Group’s move to expand its crypto portfolio, choosing Cardano as one of the major coins. The CME is preparing to increase the scope of its crypto derivatives offering and take a further step toward the institutionalization of digital asset markets, with the introduction of futures contracts for Cardano (ADA) and Chainlink (LINK). 

By adding ADA and LINK futures to its platform, CME is strengthening the function of regulated derivatives as an entry point for institutional involvement in the developing cryptocurrency ecosystem. This action demonstrates the rising significance of other blockchain networks in global finance. It also reflects the growing demand from professional traders seeking regulated exposure outside of Bitcoin and Ethereum, the two largest crypto assets.

According to Lucas Macchiavelli, a Cardano ambassador and blockchain strategist, this could be the strongest institutional validation in ADA’s history, and it might be the largest sign of approval the leading altcoin has ever gotten. Macchiavelli added that this is not just another listing since the move expands the network’s role in digital finance operations.

The strategist’s claims major hinges on the fact that the CME Group is the largest derivatives exchange in the world, which is increasingly used by banks, hedge funds, asset managers, and institutional investors across the globe. Currently, this goes beyond Cardano. 

Macchiavelli stated that this kind of action sends a signal to the entire cryptocurrency market, improving price discovery, deepening capital access, increasing institutional visibility, and making it easier for traditional finance to participate. “This is how crypto keeps moving into the financial mainstream,” the expert added.

Data On The ADA Stays Written

Crypto expert Dave stated that Cardano is exceptionally well-suited to real-world use cases like traceability because once data is written on the network, it stays written. There is no rewriting history, no ambiguity, just facts that are retained exactly as they were recorded.

Such performance underscores its immutability, which is backed by over 8 years of continuous reliability. Cardano network has been continuously operating, developing, and securing genuine worth while being enhanced between. This is key when trust, verification, and accountability are required in real-world governance by compliance and regulation.

According to the expert, the network quietly stands apart in a world of transparency and reliability. With this, ADA goes beyond the status of a store of value. It is also considered a store of truth, continuity, and real utility.

Депутаты Госдумы России Анатолий Аксаков, Николай Шульгинов, Василий Пискарев и Сергей Пахомов внесли законопроект о штрафах за майнинг.

Bitcoin’s price action in recent days has shifted from controlled upward momentum to rejection in the past 24 hours. After failing to hold above $97,000 last week, Bitcoin has rolled over with expanding downside momentum, printing consecutive indecisive bearish candles on the daily timeframe.

An interesting view was laid out in a recent technical analysis shared on X by a crypto analyst known as Guru, who argued that what many traders mistook for consolidation was, in fact, a late-stage distribution phase for Bitcoin.

Rejection At The Range Top

Technical analysis of Bitcoin’s price action on the daily candlestick timeframe chart shows that the leading cryptocurrency has been trading in an ascending channel with a series of higher lows and higher highs since November 2025. An ascending channel is generally bullish, since it suggests buyers are increasingly gaining control.

However, the outlook laid out by Guru projects Bitcoin’s price action resolving into a bearish downturn. Notably, Bitcoin’s price action recently pushed into the upper boundary of the range and was firmly rejected. This rejection is the focal point of his analysis. Instead of a breakout or a clean continuation higher, Bitcoin failed to sustain momentum at resistance, which is a sign that sellers are stepping in.

In Guru’s view, this behavior is inconsistent with accumulation. He describes the structure as a rising range forming after a completed expansion. The rejection at the upper boundary means supply is overwhelming demand, even though the price is trending slightly higher within the range. 

Based on this, the analyst warned that the “party is over” for bulls as a final warning for traders before a projected downturn. “Last call to SELL before the REAL crash hits below 80K. Bulls won’t get another warning,” he said.

Price Target And The Bearish Roadmap

Guru’s analysis is very specific when it comes to where he believes Bitcoin is headed if the range continues to hold as resistance. In terms of a price target, the analyst projected a move that sees BTC falling below $80,000 and even extending the crash below $76,000. 

As it stands, Bitcoin is trading at $92,930, having retraced by 2.1% in the past 24 hours. What has added validity to Guru’s prediction is the comparison between his previous analysis in December 2025 and the current price action. A month ago, he shared the same rising channel and outlined a path that he expected the price of Bitcoin to follow within the channel. 

Bitcoin respected the channel throughout December, bounced within its boundaries, and then rejected almost precisely where the projection suggested. The subsequent decline is unfolding along the same path he outlined. This alignment has led Guru to double down on his bearish outlook.

The analyst also challenged the narrative of BTC as a dependable store of value in what he describes as a “chaos economy” in 2026.

A crypto analyst has delivered a detailed psychological breakdown outlining what investors, traders, and market watchers should expect from the Bitcoin price this week. The report focuses on market behavior that has remained largely unchanged and could most likely continue its bearish streak to new lows. 

Bitcoin Price Expectation For The Week

Crypto market expert Doctor Profit has released a compelling report examining the Bitcoin price movement this week. In this analysis posted on X, he explained that Bitcoin has seen almost no meaningful price movement since November 2025. Price action remains stuck in a sideways consolidation, which the analyst views as a bearish sign that could eventually lead to another crash below the $80,000 zone. 

Doctor Profit revealed that he had anticipated Bitcoin’s current consolidation months earlier. He warned that sideways movement would dominate the market before BTC faces a sharper pullback. That warning still stands, signaling a cautious, bearish outlook for the leading cryptocurrency.   

Because he expects Bitcoin to move lower, the analyst confirmed that he is still holding his short position from $115,000 and $125,000. He noted that additional shorts would only be considered if BTC revisits the $97,000-$107,000 range, and nowhere earlier. Doctor Profit also revealed that his first short, around $97,000, has already been filled, with another positioned near $98,000.

The analyst shared a detailed price chart showing all his short positions and Bitcoin’s “top territory” near $120,000. Several additional orders have also been placed between $97,000 and $110,000 to manage risk during the cryptocurrency’s prolonged consolidation phase. 

Beyond technical structures, the report highlighted January 21, 2026, as a key date for the crypto market, as it marks the expected release of the CLARITY Act bill. Doctor Profit stressed that once the bill is published, it would give institutions and traders a clear view of the regulatory framework, showing who regulates crypto, how exchanges would be treated, and whether the new rules would favor or restrict the industry. 

Even without an immediate vote by the US Senate Banking Committee, Doctor Profit noted that the bill’s release alone could move markets. He explained that clarity eliminates uncertainty in the market, which is a powerful catalyst for price action. Notably, the vote on the bill has been scheduled for January 27, with its outcome set to shape the future of crypto regulations and also influence price movements. 

Analyst Remains Extremely Bearish On Bitcoin

Doctor Profit has said in his report that he remains extremely bearish on the market, expecting another leg down that would officially confirm his bear market thesis. He stated that there have been no relevant updates to invalidate his outlook or support a new bullish narrative. His chart forecasts a potential drop toward the $70,000- $75,000 range. With Bitcoin currently trading above $92,500, that would mean a decline of over 20%. 

Нью‑Йоркская фондовая биржа (NYSE) сообщила о разработке платформы для торговли токенизированными акциями. Блокчейн-проект проходит стадию согласования американскими ведомствами-регуляторами.

Председатель юридического комитета Сената США Чарльз Грассли (Charles Grassley), состоящий в Республиканской партии, и сенатор-демократ от штата Иллинойс Ричард Дурбин (Richard Durbin) призвали коллег исключить из законопроекта о регулировании крипторынка положения о защите разработчиков.