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

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

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

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

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

Short-Term Holders Prioritize Capital Preservation Near Key Levels

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

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

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

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

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

Bitcoin Rebounds Toward Key Resistance

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

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

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

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

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

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com 

Ethereum (ETH) is significantly drawing attention from both institutional investors and everyday users, as on-chain data shows rising participation across staking, treasury accumulation, and wallet creation.

Related Reading: Ethereum New Addresses Hit Record Levels: What’s Driving The Growth?

Similarly, price forecasts remain mixed. While major banks and market analysts see room for further upside, others caution that macro conditions, ETF flows, and technical resistance levels could limit near-term gains.

With ETH trading near the $3,300–$3,400 range in mid-January, the network’s foundation appears stronger than in previous quarters. Yet the question remains whether these developments will translate into a sustained price rally.

Ethereum Staking and Treasury Demand Signal Long-Term Commitment

Ethereum staking has reached a record value of about $118 billion, with roughly 35.8 million ETH locked on the Beacon Chain. This represents close to 30% of the circulating supply, suggesting a growing preference among holders to earn yield rather than sell.

Network participation is also increasing. Active validators now exceed 976,000, while around 2.3 million ETH is queued for future staking. Lido Finance remains the largest staking provider, holding roughly a quarter of all staked ETH.

Corporate treasury activity has added to this trend. BitMine Immersion, one of the largest Ethereum treasury firms, recently staked an additional 154,304 ETH, worth roughly $514 million at current prices. The company’s total ETH holdings now exceed 4 million tokens.

Institutional Forecasts Point to Higher Targets

Several financial institutions have revised their outlook for Ethereum in 2026. Standard Chartered has recently raised its year-end ETH price target to $7,500, up from a previous estimate of $4,000. The bank cited growing demand from corporate treasuries, spot ETH investment products, and expectations for network fee growth.

According to analysts, treasury firms and ETF-related flows have absorbed close to 4% of Ethereum’s circulating supply since mid-2025. Treasury buyers alone reportedly acquired around 2.3 million ETH in just over two months, a pace the bank compares favorably with past Bitcoin accumulation phases.

Standard Chartered also suggested Ethereum could outperform Bitcoin if real-world usage, stablecoin activity, and tokenized asset adoption continue to expand on its network. Longer-term scenarios project costs of up to $25,000 by 2028 and $40,000 by 2030, although these projections rely on optimistic assumptions.

User Growth Rises, But ETH Price Faces Technical Limits

Ethereum’s user base is also expanding. In early January, the network recorded nearly 393,600 new wallet addresses in a single day, with a weekly average of over 327,000 new addresses.

Analysts link this surge to the Fusaka protocol upgrade, which reduced data costs for Layer-2 networks, as well as record stablecoin transfer volumes of roughly $8 trillion in late 2025.

Related Reading: Boycott Urged For CLARITY Act Draft: Expert Raises Concerns Over Banks Manipulation

Despite stronger fundamentals, price action remains cautious. ETH recently tested the $3,400 resistance level, with key hurdles near $3,550 and $3,650 based on long-term moving averages. Support is forming around $3,000, and a failure to hold that level could expose ETH to further downside.

Cover image from ChatGPT, ETHUSD chart from Tradingview

In a statement on X, a crypto expert declared unwavering confidence that XRP will join the ranks of the world’s 10 largest assets by market capitalization within the next two years. Bird’s bold comment comes during a notable change in asset rankings, where silver recently overtook Nvidia in market cap. 

At the time of writing, XRP’s market cap is around $127 billion, a fraction of the threshold needed to break into the top 10, where it needs to reach at least $2 trillion in market cap.

Analyst Says XRP Can Join The World’s Top 10 Assets

The prediction was shared by crypto analyst Bird, who stated that he is 100% confident that XRP will appear on the leaderboard of the top 10 global assets by market capitalization within the next 24 months. This comment was made in response to when silver, with a current market cap of $5.036 trillion, overtook NVIDIA, which has a current market cap of $4.458 trillion, as the second largest asset behind Bitcoin.

This statement of XRP becoming a top 10 asset by market cap comes with an ultra-bullish expectation where XRP provides more value than most top global assets and companies.

At the time of writing, XRP’s market capitalization is around $127 billion, which places it well outside the top 100 global assets by market cap. In fact, only Bitcoin and Ethereum currently occupy spots inside the top 100, with Bitcoin ranking eighth globally at around $1.929 trillion and Ethereum at rank 35 with a market cap of $402.09 billion. 

What Would It Take For XRP to Reach Top-Ten Status?

The tenth-largest asset on the list of top assets is Broadcom, which currently has a market cap of approximately $1.611 trillion. In order for XRP to realistically become one of the world’s ten most valuable assets by market cap, the cryptocurrency would need to see extraordinary growth in price, which would not be possible without a corresponding growth in utility. 

XRP’s current valuation is around $2.10 per token, and its market cap falls far short of the $1.7 trillion that it needs to overtake Broadcom. Based on the current circulating supply of XRP, achieving a market cap of $1.7 trillion would require the cryptocurrency to trade at a price around $28 per XRP. This translates to an increase of about 1,220% from the current price level.

Interestingly, many bullish XRP enthusiasts and analysts put XRP trading at this price target one day, but these predictions are based on adoption in cross-border transfers and strong demand in both retail and institutional markets for XRP. However, whether XRP can realistically reach the $28 mark within the next two years is still an open question.

Washington’s long-running effort to bring regulatory clarity to the U.S. crypto market has entered a more uncertain phase. The Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, known as the CLARITY Act, was expected to move closer to a Senate vote this week.

Instead, a sudden withdrawal of support from Coinbase and a last-minute pause by Senate leadership have exposed deep divisions within the industry and among lawmakers. While the White House insists the bill is still on track, the debate over how digital assets should be regulated is becoming more fragmented.

Coinbase Withdrawal Triggers Legislative Pause

The immediate turning point came when Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong announced that the company could no longer support the current draft of the CLARITY Act.

Armstrong argued that the bill would be worse than the existing regulatory uncertainty, citing concerns over limits on tokenized equities, restrictions on crypto rewards, and expanded government access to financial data.

Shortly after, Senate Banking Committee Chair Tim Scott introduced a brief pause in the bill’s progress, cancelling a scheduled markup.

Scott described the delay as procedural rather than political, stating that negotiations were ongoing and bipartisan talks continued. A new markup date has been set for January 27, once updated bill language is released.

Despite the setback, White House AI and crypto czar David Sacks reiterated that the administration still backs the legislation. He said the pause should be used to resolve remaining issues and push forward a framework that allows innovation while strengthening oversight.

Industry Split Over SEC and CFTC Roles

At the core of the dispute is the division of regulatory authority between the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) as outlined in the CLARITY Act.

Crypto exchanges generally favor the CFTC’s approach, which treats many digital assets as commodities. The SEC, by contrast, applies securities laws that impose stricter compliance requirements.

Critics argue the bill shifts too much power to the SEC, particularly over tokenized equities and certain crypto products. Coinbase has warned that the proposed rules could effectively block the development of on-chain stock trading and limit user reward programs.

Other industry leaders, including executives from Ripple, a16z, and Kraken, have taken a more cautious stance. While acknowledging flaws in the draft, they argue that passing some form of market structure legislation is better than leaving the sector in regulatory limbo.

Banks, Stablecoins, and the Broader Stakes

Another contentious issue is stablecoin regulation. The CLARITY Act would make it difficult for crypto platforms to offer yield or interest-like rewards on stablecoin holdings. Banks support these restrictions, saying they protect financial stability.

Lawmakers also point to past failures, such as the FTX collapse, as evidence that clearer rules are needed to protect consumers and national security. However, frustration is growing behind the scenes.

Senate sources indicate that some committee members were dissatisfied with Coinbase’s timing, perceiving the withdrawal as disruptive to months of negotiations.

Cover image from ChatGPT, BTCUSD chart from Tradingview

With the latest move and partnership from Cardano, the financial sector could be set for a major shift. A new financial audit has been launched from the recent partnership that aims at bolstering accountability in the broader finance landscape, which reflects the blockchain’s focus on transparency.

New Audit On Cardano To Boost Financial Oversight

Recently, the Cardano Foundation announced a new partnership with global professional services firm Grant Thornton as they step toward enhancing transparency and institutional credibility. By joining forces, both leading firms have collectively launched a new comprehensive financial audit.

The partnership was disclosed by the Cardano Foundation on their official page on the social media platform X. According to the Foundation, this audit is cryptographically secured and attested directly on-chain using their Virtual LEI (vLEI).

This new audit is being described as a global first for financial trust and transparency in the blockchain industry. Powered by Reeve, this new gold standard is the Cardano Foundation’s enterprise-grade financial data management solution.

By hiring one of the top audit firms in the world, the foundation is demonstrating its dedication to regulatory-ready standards and accountability, which are essential elements for drawing in long-term investors and enterprise adoption. In a world driven by data, trust, and verification, the Foundation claims that accountability is everything, and Cardano is at the forefront of this narrative. 

Frederik Gregaard, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Foundation, stated that this audit was executed in two on-chain transactions. “For me personally, it closes one chapter and opens a much larger one. A future where financial trust is native to infrastructure, not bolted on through intermediaries,” the CEO added.

Institutions Are Choosing The Blockchain

Cardano’s position as a blockchain project focused on rigor and trust is evidenced by its growing adoption on the institutional level. A few days ago, one of the world’s largest companies, Google, took a bold step by investing in the blockchain’s infrastructure.

According to the report from ADA Advocate, the Google Cloud stake pool can now be found on the network and the newly launched Midnight chain. Google’s involvement and recognition of Cardano’s security and stability is a significant advancement in the use of blockchain technology by actual business behemoths.

Amid the rising demand, the price of Cardano has begun to display bullish momentum, pushing back above $0.4. Market expert and veteran financial trader, Matthew Dixon, highlighted that ADA currently holds tremendous upside potential with 5 waves up from the low, as either an A wave or wave 1.

More than two times the potential is given by even the most cautious interpretation of an A wave, and much more if wave 1. As a result, the expert has placed the altcoin among his favorites for Q1 2026.

While some analysts are focused on predicting the next altcoin season, others are keeping a close eye on when meme coins like PEPE AND FARTCOIN might explode. According to a crypto analyst, the meme coin market is currently at one of its lowest points since 2024. However, while this downturn may raise concerns, the analyst emphasizes that it is only a matter of time before the market flips over and enters a major bullish phase. 

Meme Coin Market Low To Fuel PEPE And FARTCOIN Rally

@theunipcs, a crypto analyst on X, announced that meme coin dominance has dropped back to near all-time lows, potentially setting the stage for a big sector-wide rally in 2026. The analyst shared a CryptoQuant chart illustrating the declining trend in the meme coin market. He noted that the current downturn is even more severe than what was observed during the 2022 to 2023 bear market. However, similar low points in February 2024 led to massive price rallies in meme coins like BONK, which jumped 440%, FLOKI by 1,000%, WIF by 1,600%, and PEPE by 2,500%. 

Before these historic rallies, @theunipcs stated that many investors believed that meme coins were dead. He noted that shortly after the negative sentiment shifted, the market saw one of the most explosive meme coin rallies of the cycle. With dominance at similar low levels and sentiment still uncertain, the analyst predicts another rally could occur in the current cycle. 

In his analysis, @theunipcs referenced the early meme coin melt-up in the first week of January 2026. He said that a week after his December 23, 2025, post, coins including USELESS, PEPE, BONK, and FARTCOIN surged between 50% and 120% within just a few days. The overall meme coin sector also saw gains of more than $10 billion in market capitalization during that period. 

Notably, the analyst has observed that Bitcoin is now breaking out from a key level. As a result, major cryptocurrencies are becoming more attractive to investors for the first time in months, and overall sentiment in the crypto market is improving. He suggested that these bullish conditions could support another wave of meme coin momentum, with PEPE and FARTCOIN among the top cryptocurrencies the analyst predicts could rally this year. 

Other Meme Coins The Analyst Thinks Will Surge

In his analysis, @theunipcs identified specific coins he is positioning himself in ahead of the potential meme coin rally. Other than PEPE and FARTCOIN, he mentioned coins such as USELESS, BONK, and FLOKI, as those he expects to aggressively outperform the broader market. He stated that these meme coins are likely to lead the next wave of market gains. 

Moreover, the analyst predicted that the market will soon enter a melt-up phase, during which several coins could experience parabolic rallies of up to 1,000%.

Is XRP running out? A recent debate between market analyst Jake Claver and other industry commentators has thrust the digital asset back into the spotlight, predicting a looming supply crunch. As structural limits meet rising demand, experts warn of a “sell-out” scenario that could fundamentally redefine the token’s market dynamics.

The Escrow Trap And The Reality Of An XRP Supply Shock

The core of the “sell-out” claim lies in the technical architecture of the XRP Ledger’s escrow system. In a post on January 14, 2026, Claver explained that Ripple’s monthly supply releases are hard-coded into the protocol, meaning the company is unable to inject extra tokens into the market during a liquidity crisis. While this mechanism was designed to provide predictability and limit manipulation, it creates a double-edged outcome. In a high-demand environment, supply becomes effectively inelastic.

This structure is more relevant when viewed against current supply figures. XRP has a hard maximum of 100 billion tokens. About 60.7 billion XRP are already in circulation, leaving roughly 39.3 billion outside active market supply. At a price near $2.10, circulating supply translate to a market capitalization above $127 billion, while the fully diluted valuation sits close to $210 billion.

These figures show that nearly 40% of XRP’s total supply is effectively off the table and cannot be accessed to meet sudden demand. If a large institution attempted to buy $10 billion worth of XRP, Ripple could not unlock escrow early to provide liquidity because the ledger prohibits releases beyond the 1-billion-token monthly cap. Any abrupt surge in buying pressure therefore, cannot be met with new supply. This rigidity materially increases the risk of a severe supply shock, with price acting as the sole pressure valve under this structural bottleneck.

Institutional Accumulation Pushes Toward A Liquidity Cliff

The conversation escalated when a user known as RemiRelief responded to Claver, sounding an alarm that XRP is “on the verge of being sold out completely.” RemiRelief argued that there is very little liquid supply left on exchanges and predicted a “mind-boggling” scenario if investors began moving their holdings into private storage. The post specifically pointed to the potential entry of BlackRock as a catalyst that would drain the remaining “low-hanging fruit” from the market.

The current performance of XRP ETFs supports this “constant buying” narrative. Since early 2026, XRP ETFs have seen massive, consistent net inflows—reaching over $1.37 billion in a single week. Every dollar flowing into an ETF represents XRP being sucked out of the public market and locked into institutional vaults. 

RemiRelief’s claim stems from this collision: institutional giants are buying up tokens at a record pace, while the “escrow trap” Claver described prevents any new supply from entering the market to balance it out. Beyond signalling a looming sellout, this debate emphasizes that the window for acquiring XRP at “low” prices is closing fast.  

The crypto market was left in awe as the price of Bitcoin experienced a sudden surge, bringing the flagship asset dangerously close to the $100,000 mark. With the recent bounce, hopes for a retest of the current all-time high and beyond have reemerged. However, a crucial supply cluster continues to stand in the way.

A Fresh All-Time High Beckons For Bitcoin

Bitcoin’s price is gaining sharp upward traction as it retests the $98,000 price mark on Wednesday, a level last seen in November 2025. On-chain data shows that the crypto king is once again edging toward uncharted territory, with market structure pointing to a clear path toward a new all-time high.

However, there is a significant barrier between present levels and price discovery: a dense supply cluster created by investors who have previously made purchases in the same range. This range was highlighted by Glassnode, a leading on-chain data platform, after examining the BTC Long-Term Holder Cost Basis Distribution Heatmap.

Data from the key metric shows a dense cost-basis cluster between the $93,000 and $109,000 price range, which is forming a substantial overhead supply zone. The supply zone serves as a technical and psychological barrier where a large number of holders may be waiting to take profits or quit at breakeven, resulting in concentrated resistance.

At this level, any sustained push higher must first absorb this supply, with a decisive breakout above the range. If Bitcoin is able to absorb this overhead supply and push through it decisively, momentum could pick up pace quickly. Glassnode noted that this crucial range is usually expected to reopen the path toward a new all-time high for Bitcoin over the longer term.

According to Glassnode in another post, BTC has ushered in the new year with constructive momentum, printing two higher highs and extending its value toward the $98,000 price level. However, the platform stated that the leg up currently runs directly into a historically supply zone.

BTC Market Is Displaying Deleveraging Signals

Looking at Bitcoin’s current action from an on-chain perspective, the flagship asset is starting to show signs of deleveraging. This deleveraging indicates that excess speculation is being removed from the market after a period of high leverage and aggressive positioning.

Coin Bureau’s report shared on X points to a sharp decline in BTC Open Interest (OI) from $15 billion in October to $10 billion today, as leveraged traders get flushed out. The drop represents an over 30% decrease within the period. 

Interestingly, these deleveraging phases have often preceded major market bottoms, making this a critical moment for BTC. Nonetheless, should BTC continue to fall, more leverage is expected to still get wiped out.

At the time of writing, the Bitcoin price was trading at $96,247, demonstrating a 1.29% increase in the last 24 hours. Data from CoinMarketCap shows that trading volume is down despite the bullish price action, dropping by more than 3% in the past day.

Crypto pundit X Finance Bull has alleged that the Bank of America (BofA) is running tests for cross-border payments using Ripple-linked XRP. This follows an earlier statement from Ripple’s President, Monica Long, about the bank and the potential adoption of crypto. 

Crypto Pundit Alleges That Bank of America Is Using Ripple’s XRP

In an X post, X Finance Bull claimed that the Bank of America is already running tests with Ripple and that cross-border payments are being rewritten. He added that Ripple provides the technology, the bank runs the tests, and the U.S. ensures legality. In line with this, he remarked that XRP is becoming the core financial plumbing. 

In a video shared by crypto pundit Xaif last year, Ripple President Monica Long had mentioned that Bank of America was one of their early partners when they were developing the messaging software online payment solution. However, she didn’t say whether the partnership still exists till now. 

Bank of America notably filed a patent for real-time net settlement using a distributed ledger system, which appeared to be based on Ripple’s payment network. This plan has since been abandoned as the bank never moved forward with the application. The bank has, however, opened up to crypto as it now allows its wealth clients to allocate up to 4% to crypto. The bank is also exploring issuing its stablecoin, which could make it a direct competitor to Ripple. 

Meanwhile, Long also mentioned how several banks had contacted Ripple for payments and custody services after Donald Trump won the U.S. presidential elections. Ripple’s CEO, Brad Garlinghouse, had also previously mentioned that they secured more partnerships following Trump’s victory, as the U.S. president paved the way for a more regulatory-friendly environment. 

Ripple’s Major Existing Banking Partners

Ripple has notably secured partnerships with other major banking institutions in recent times, as several nations provide a more regulatory-friendly environment. The crypto firm has partnered with Bank of New York Mellon (BNY), which is the largest custodian. The bank serves as the primary reserve custodian of Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin. 

Furthermore, Ripple recently announced that its Ripple Prime is an early adopter of BNY’s tokenized deposit services for institutional clients. These tokenized deposits operate on the bank’s private blockchain and don’t involve the XRP Ledger or XRP. Other major banks such as AMINA Bank, Absa, and SBI have also partnered with Ripple. 

AMINA recently became the first European bank to integrate Ripple payments into its operations. SBI has also adopted Ripple payments. Meanwhile, the crypto firm provides custody services to Absa, one of South Africa’s largest banks.

At the time of writing, the XRP price is trading at around $2.10, down over 3% in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

In a critical week for the cryptocurrency industry, following the delayed markup of the Crypto Market Structure bill (CLARITY Act), House Democrats are calling on the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chair, Paul Atkins, to reinstate enforcement actions against crypto firms. 

The letter, dated January 15, was signed by Representatives Maxine Waters, Sean Casten, and Brad Sherman, who expressed concerns regarding the SEC’s recent retreat to investigate and prosecute alleged violations related to “digital asset securities.”

House Democrats’ Allegations

The representatives highlighted that since January 2025, the SEC has dismissed or closed more than a dozen cases involving crypto-related activities, including litigations against major players like Binance, Coinbase, and Kraken. Just this week, the SEC also closed its case against the Zcash Foundation.

In their letter, the lawmakers alleged that given the industry’s “troubling history of harming investors,” the SEC’s decision to pull back raises serious questions about its priorities and effectiveness. They warned that this shift puts both investors and the broader US economy at considerable risk.

Moreover, the representatives highlighted unprecedented lobbying and monetary contributions to political figures, including President Trump and his associates, from the digital asset sector. They pointed out that this could have influenced the SEC’s decision to abandon a majority of its crypto enforcement actions. 

Alleged Conflicts Of Interest Between Trump And Crypto 

These concerns follows months of allegations from the Democratic Party suggesting conflicts of interest between the Trump administration and the crypto industry, particularly highlighted by last year’s pardon for former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) and connections to the Trump-affiliated World Liberty Financial (WLFI).

According to the lawmakers, the SEC’s choice to walk away from these enforcement cases has raised suspicions of a possible pay-to-play dynamic. They argued that allowing violators of securities laws to escape without repercussions contradicts the SEC’s primary responsibility. 

Furthermore, the Representatives claim that recent statements by Chair Atkins, who said that ‘most crypto tokens are not securities’, have caused confusion.

The Democrats further pointed out that this lack of enforcement against digital assets leaves investors “vulnerable” and allegedly fails to protect them from potential violations in the market.

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

A planned Senate Banking Committee legislation markup has been postponed, as Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has withdrawn his support for a market structure bill which seeks to codify federal regulations over crypto, stablecoins, and DeFi markets.

Based on reports, this unexpected withdrawal sharpened existing tensions between senators on debates of this bill and lawmakers who were trying to revamp critical phrases.

Republicans’ Concerns In Oversight

The Republicans in the Senate, under the leadership of Sen. Tim Scott, have strongly countered. They have expressed reservations about whether it is intended to help ordinary investors or just a few companies.

While some representatives expressed their concerns that broad oversight authority could stymie growth in addition to proposed net yields for stablecoins, reports have indicated that Republicans want more defined enforcement authority in opposition to broad regulatory language.

Crypto builders need clear rules of the road.

Over the past five years, Republicans, Democrats, and the Trump Administration have worked closely with members across the crypto industry to protect decentralization, support developers, and give entrepreneurs a fair shot.

​At its…

— Chris Dixon (@cdixon) January 15, 2026

Bitcoin Unfazed By The Standoff

Despite the confusion, crypto prices remained firm. Bitcoin held its ground and climbed 1.5%. The top crypto asset retained its grip on the $96,000 level, while other top cryptocurrencies like Ethereum and USDT likewise notched similar gains in the last 24 hours, based on the latest market tracking figures.

Meanwhile, investors followed speeches and congress sessions. Market volatility heightened. Some investors opted to go to the sideline position as lobbyists and exchanges sought to shape the draft that will come next.

After reviewing the Senate Banking draft text over the last 48hrs, Coinbase unfortunately can’t support the bill as written.

There are too many issues, including:

– A defacto ban on tokenized equities – DeFi prohibitions, giving the government unlimited access to your financial…

— Brian Armstrong (@brian_armstrong) January 14, 2026

As a response to the new draft bill issued by the Senate, several industry representatives vocally objected to its provisions and expressed their belief that it could have a negative impact on tokenized equities and Decentralized Finance.

In fact, there are enough concerns in the blockchain sector raised by Armstrong, that he stated he would prefer to see no bill than see a bad bill passed, indicating that even some members of his industry agree with Republican concerns regarding possible overreach by Congress.

These industry groups said they will likely withdraw their support unless the Senate makes the necessary changes to allow for continued innovation and cross-border competition regarding blockchain technology.

Negotiations Continue To Take Place Behind Closed Doors

Some Senate leaders still want to move toward a committee vote, even though disagreement remains deep. Republican and Democratic legislators are currently negotiating or trading potential amendments on issues such as stablecoin legislation, DeFi protections and investor protections in an effort to reach an agreement on an acceptable version of the bill by both parties.

Democrats have identified a need to address regulatory issues regarding ethics, potential Money Laundering, and DeFi over-regulation as top priorities. On the other side of the aisle, the Republican Party continues to push for legislation that clearly defines the guardrails for federal regulators regarding blockchains.

As a result of ongoing negotiations, there is currently no set timeline for a Senate floor vote on the new legislation.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse is slated to appear on a World Economic Forum (WEF) panel on tokenization during Davos 2026, while Hedera says it will sponsor and participate in a slate of senior-level events running alongside the annual gathering. The WEF Annual Meeting 2026 is scheduled for Jan. 19–23 in Davos-Klosters.

Ripple Joins WEF Davos Tokenization Panel

Garlinghouse is once again listed among the public speakers for a WEF session titled “Is Tokenization the Future?” set for Jan. 21 (10:15–11:00 CET). The panel also lists Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, Standard Chartered CEO Bill Winters, ECB Governor François Villeroy de Galhau, Eurazeo CEO Valérie Urbain, and moderator Karen Tso.

The session framing is explicitly market-structure oriented, positioning tokenization as something moving beyond pilots and into mainstream financial rails. In the WEF description, organizers write: “Asset tokenization is accelerating quickly, moving from early experiments to full deployment across major asset classes. As adoption expands, it promises new ways for individuals to invest while presenting traditional firms and emerging innovators with complex new dynamics.”

A separate thread of Ripple’s Davos presence may run through “USA House,” a privately organized venue that typically operates in parallel with the official WEF perimeter. Venue materials list Ripple among sponsors of USA House for Davos 2026.

Hedera Brings EcoGuard Global To Davos

Hedera, for its part, is leaning into Davos week as a convening calendar rather than a single stage appearance. In a statement via X, Hedera announced: “Hedera is proud to be an official sponsor of the USA House during the WEF Annual Meeting in Davos, and will contribute to senior-level discussions on digital assets, AI, central banking, and G20 coordination.”

Hedera is also sponsoring Global Blockchain Business Council’s “Blockchain Central Davos,” which runs Jan. 19–22 alongside the WEF meeting, according to Hedera and GBBC materials.

Separately, a Hedera-built carbon-market initiative called EcoGuard Global is scheduled to officially launch in Davos on Jan. 20 at Turmhotel Victoria (3:00–6:00 PM), per EcoGuard’s announcement.

The EcoGuard description pitches an end-to-end infrastructure play around integrity and lifecycle accounting:

“EcoGuard Global is a full carbon lifecycle company building and operating digital infrastructure and managed marketplaces—while actively participating in carbon markets as a developer, investor, and market enabler for high-integrity climate projects… Built on the Hedera network by The Hashgraph Group, EcoGuard Global combines trusted digital infrastructure with market operations, capital, and partnerships to support credible, investable, and scalable carbon markets.”

At press time, HBAR traded at $0.12134.

According to the Crypto Fear & Greed Index, investor mood has swung back toward optimism, registering a score of 61 on Thursday. That is the first time the gauge has moved into the “greed” zone since the large market fallout on Oct. 11, when roughly $19 billion in liquidations drove many traders from altcoins. The index had climbed to 48 just a day earlier, moving out of “neutral” and signaling a quick change in sentiment.

Crypto Fear And Greed Shifts

The index combines several signals — price moves, trading activity, momentum, Google search interest and social media chatter — to produce a single reading. Based on reports, the measure fell into low double digits several times during November and December after the October sell-off. A score of 61 does not imply euphoria, but it does show growing confidence among traders after weeks of anxiety and patience being tested.

Bitcoin Price Rebounds

Bitcoin’s price has been moving in step with the improving mood. In the past seven days, Bitcoin rose from $89,750 to a two-month high of $97,720 on Wednesday, according to data from CoinMarketCap. That level was last seen on Nov. 14, when the market was still struggling and sentiment readings were weak even as prices briefly touched similar highs. Market watchers say the recent rally has helped lift trader confidence and is one of the main reasons the index improved so fast.

Retail Exit And Exchange Supply

According to market intelligence firm Santiment, there was a net drop of 47,244 Bitcoin holders over a three-day stretch. Reports have disclosed that many small investors left their positions, a reaction blamed on FUD and impatience. At the same time, the amount of Bitcoin held on exchanges fell to a seven-month low of 1.18 million BTC. Less supply sitting on exchange platforms tends to lower the immediate risk of a large, sudden sell-off.

What This Means For Traders

Traders use sentiment tools as one input among many when deciding whether to buy, sell or wait. A return to “greed” suggests more people are willing to buy, which can push prices higher if buying pressure continues. On the other hand, sentiment can flip quickly; a sharp move back down would likely make some traders nervous again. Analysts point out that a shrinking pool of retail participants can leave the market in the hands of more committed holders, which often supports steadier price action.

From Anxiety To Optimism

Based on reports and current readings, the market has shifted from anxiety toward a more upbeat mood, backed by Bitcoin’s recent gains and lower exchange balances. That combination is seen by many former skeptics as a healthier setup than the panic-filled trading seen after the October liquidations. The picture is cautiously positive: optimism is rising, but the swings that define crypto markets have not disappeared.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Dartmouth College, via the Trustees of Dartmouth College, disclosed a new position in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT), reporting 201,531 shares worth $10,006,014 as of Dec. 31, 2025, according to a Form 13F filed on Jan. 14. The same filing also shows a fresh allocation to the Grayscale Ethereum Mini Trust, a rare double-print of BTC and ETH exposure inside an Ivy League endowment’s public equity book.

Dartmouth’s Endowment Adds Bitcoin And Ethereum

Crypto market observers flagged the disclosure immediately. MacroScope, an analyst account that tracks institutional positioning, framed the filing as a meaningful signal from the endowment complex: “Very important filing today. In a 13F, Dartmouth College reported owning 201,531 shares of IBIT as of December 31, valued over $10 million. It also reported owning 178,148 shares of Grayscale Ethereum Mini valued at $4.9 million.”

The SEC filing provides the precise marks. Dartmouth’s Grayscale Ethereum Mini Trust stake was listed at $4,998,833 for 178,148 shares at quarter-end, placing the combined Bitcoin and Ethereum allocations at roughly $15.0 million of reported 13F holdings.

In the context of Dartmouth’s disclosed 13F portfolio, crypto remains a slice rather than a core. The filing’s summary page lists a “Form 13F Information Table Value Total” of $393,306,686 across nine positions. On that math, IBIT represents about 2.5% of the reported book, with the Ethereum Mini position adding roughly 1.3%.

The rest of the holdings read like a traditional endowment liquid sleeve. Dartmouth’s largest position was SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust at $227,897,664, alongside sizable allocations to emerging markets (iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets at $50,043,811), a quality-factor ETF (GMO US Quality at $42,153,006), and a value ETF (Vanguard Value at $34,807,928).

Notably, neither IBIT nor the Grayscale Ethereum Mini Trust appeared in Dartmouth’s prior 13F for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2025, supporting the claim that both positions were new additions heading into year-end. Notably, Dartmouth is not the first campus allocator to route crypto exposure through the ETF wrapper. Brown University disclosed a new IBIT position in its March 31, 2025 13F, 105,000 shares valued around $4.9 million, the school’s “first foray” into spot bitcoin ETF ownership that quarter.

Emory University moved earlier. In an October 2024 disclosure, the Atlanta-based school reported putting $15.8 million from its endowment into a publicly traded bitcoin ETF, with the filing showing roughly 2.7 million shares of Grayscale’s Bitcoin Mini Trust.

And at the other end of the spectrum sits Harvard’s endowment manager. Harvard Management Co.’s public-equities 13F for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2025 showed IBIT as its largest reported position, 6,813,612 shares worth about $442.9 million on the filing’s valuation marks.

At press time, Bitcoin traded at $96,284.

Dogecoin is part of those receiving inflows with the current inflows into the Bitcoin and crypto industry. However, Billy Markus, best known as the co-creator of Dogecoin, shared a blunt take on the current state of digital assets. 

Taking to the social platform X, Markus acknowledged the general strength of the market but made it clear he isn’t interested until he sees cryptocurrencies breaking past their previous peak price levels. His message came at a moment when markets have shown gains and following Bitcoin’s return above $96,000.

Doubts On All-Time High Predictions

The entire crypto market cap is currently sitting at $3.344 trillion at the time of writing. When compared to the $3.047 trillion recorded on January 1, this represents an increase of about 9.7%, meaning close to $300 billion has flowed back into digital assets over the past few weeks. That rise has helped restore some confidence across the market after a period of choppy and indecisive price action in late 2025.

Things are going well for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other large market-cap cryptos, and bullish momentum is starting to creep in steadily. However, Billy Markus, the co-creator of Dogecoin, specifically mentioned the need for big benchmark breaks to actually happen before believing the optimism that’s creeping in.

In a short message addressed to his millions of followers, Markus remarked that while “crypto is doing good and all,” he would rather be woken up when all-time highs are actually being broken. The comment struck a chord across the community and quickly drew a range of reactions, with some noting new all-time highs feel like a myth at this point, and others noting that new price highs are certainly coming.

Although Markus and his co-creators created Dogecoin as a joke, he holds a selective view of the different assets in the crypto industry. Over the years, he has expressed respect for a small group of networks he views as meaningful or resilient, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, and Solana.

Where Crypto Stands Now

Billy Markus’ comment shows a larger divide between perspectives in the crypto community based on the current price action of major cryptocurrencies. On one hand, prices have recovered meaningfully from recent pullbacks, but on the other, the major benchmarks many traders are watching have yet to be reclaimed.

Bitcoin is currently trading in the mid-$90,000 range $96,240 after retreating from its October peak above $126,000. This price uptick is yet to reclaim $100,000, and it might not be until this happens that a full bullish momentum rolls in.

Dogecoin’s performance corresponds to the broader market’s mixed signals. The meme token is now back to making daily closes above $0.14 as selling pressure eases and traders are on high alert. However, technical analysis of Dogecoin’s price action shows that the real test is at $0.157, and traders should not celebrate early until this level falls.

The Senate Banking Committee has pulled the scheduled Thursday markup of its crypto asset market structure bill after a late-stage flare-up with Coinbase, freezing what had looked like a tightening path toward action. The pause lands at a sensitive moment for Washington’s crypto negotiations: industry heavyweights are publicly splitting over the Senate draft even as lawmakers insist bipartisan talks are still alive.

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott (R-S.C.) said Wednesday the committee will postpone the markup “as bipartisan negotiations continue,” framing the delay as tactical rather than terminal. “I’ve spoken with leaders across the crypto industry, the financial sector, and my Democratic and Republican colleagues, and everyone remains at the table working in good faith,” Scott wrote on X. “As we take a brief pause before moving to a markup, this market structure bill reflects months of serious bipartisan negotiations and real input from innovators, investors, and law enforcement.”

Scott positioned the bill as a foundational framework rather than a narrow industry carveout. “The goal is to deliver clear rules of the road that protect consumers, strengthen our national security, and ensure the future of finance is built in the United States,” he added.

Coinbase Breaks Ranks Late

The immediate catalyst was Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, who said the exchange “can’t support the bill as written” after reviewing “the Senate Banking draft text over the last 48hrs.”

Armstrong argued the draft contains multiple provisions he says would be “materially worse than the current status quo,” contending that it amounts to “a defacto ban on tokenized equities,” includes “DeFi prohibitions” that expand government access to financial records and erode privacy, and would “stifl[e] innovation” by weakening the CFTC relative to the SEC.

He also pointed to “draft amendments” he said “would kill rewards on stablecoins,” warning the changes could allow banks to “ban their competition.” Armstrong’s bottom line was blunt: “We’d rather have no bill than a bad bill.” Still, he struck a conciliatory note about process and odds of a compromise, adding he was “quite optimistic” that continued work could produce “the right outcome.”

After reviewing the Senate Banking draft text over the last 48hrs, Coinbase unfortunately can’t support the bill as written.

There are too many issues, including:

– A defacto ban on tokenized equities – DeFi prohibitions, giving the government unlimited access to your financial…

— Brian Armstrong (@brian_armstrong) January 14, 2026

That posture split the difference between hard opposition to the text and support for continued negotiations,an important distinction as the markup process is typically where senators offer and vote amendments.

Crypto Industry Split

Coinbase’s stance quickly triggered a counter-response from other major crypto firms and advocacy groups backing the Senate Banking GOP’s push. Support was voiced by a16z, Circle, Kraken, The Digital Chamber, Ripple, and Coin Center, coalescing into a public front aimed at keeping momentum intact despite the delay.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse cast the bill as overdue but directionally positive. “While long-overdue, this move by @SenatorTimScott and @BankingGOP on market structure is a massive step forward in providing workable frameworks for crypto, while continuing to protect consumers,” he wrote. He said Ripple would remain engaged, adding: “We are at the table and will continue to move forward with fair debate. I remain optimistic that issues can be resolved through the mark-up process.”

Meanwhile, Tim Draper said Armstrong’s opposition is justified, arguing the Senate compromise “is worse than no bill at all” and suggesting that “the banks have been meddling.”

Ryan Rasmussen, Head of Research at Bitwise Asset Management , called the current CLARITY Act draft broadly harmful, listing tokenization, stablecoins, DeFi, privacy, builders, users, investors, and innovation, and concluded that the industry would “rather have no bill than a bad bill.”

White House Crypto Czar David Sacks urged the industry to treat the delay as a narrow window to align rather than an opening to splinter. “Passage of market structure legislation remains as close as it’s ever been,” Sacks wrote. “The crypto industry should use this pause to resolve any remaining differences. Now is the time to set the rules of the road and secure the future of this industry.”

Galaxy Digitall’s CEO Mike Novogratz struck a more optimistic tone, saying: “While the crypto bill might be delayed to keep working on it, I am very confident that a bill will get done soon. I have spoken to over 10 senators on both sides of the aisle in the past 24 hrs and I believe they all are working in good faith to get something done. Always gets tense at the end.”

At press time, the total crypto market cap stood at $3.22 trillion.

On-chain data shows the Ethereum Network Growth has surged to a new all-time high (ATH), suggesting ETH’s adoption has been accelerating.

Ethereum Network Growth Has Shot Up Recently

In a new post on X, on-chain analytics firm Santiment has discussed about the recent increase in the Ethereum Network Growth. This metric measures the total number of addresses that are coming online on the network for the first time.

A wallet is said to come “online” when it participates in some kind of transaction activity on the blockchain. Thus, the addresses that the Network Growth tracks are the ones that are participating in their first transfer.

When the value of the metric is high, it means that the users are creating a high amount of new addresses on the network. Such a trend can be a sign that adoption of the asset is occurring.

On the other hand, the indicator having a low value can imply that the cryptocurrency isn’t attracting new users as not much wallet generation is taking place on the network.

Now, here is the chart shared by Santiment that shows the trend in the Ethereum Network Growth over the past year:

As displayed in the above graph, the Ethereum Network Growth has witnessed a spike recently. Over the past week, address generation has averaged around 327,100 per day, with a particularly large level being observed on Sunday, when 393,600 new addresses popped up.

The Sunday high was a new record for the indicator, meaning that ETH saw an unprecedented amount of single-day address creation. As a result of the surge in the Network Growth, the Total Amount of Holders, an indicator tracking the number of non-empty addresses that exist on the blockchain, has also shot up to a new ATH of 172.97 million.

What’s driving all this adoption? According to the analytics firm, there can be several factors contributing to the trend. First is the Fusaka upgrade that occurred in December, and improved data handling and cut layer-2 fees.

The second is the record stablecoin activity that the Ethereum blockchain saw in late 2025, with the transaction volume reaching $8 trillion in the fourth quarter. “This kind of real financial activity tends to bring in new participants who create wallets to send, receive, or hold stablecoins and other tokens,” explained Santiment.

Lastly, the turn of the year saw growing interest and improvement in sentiment among traders, which would have led to fresh retail traders signing up new wallets.

ETH Price

The past day has been bullish for Ethereum as its price has jumped by more than 5%, recovering back to the $3,340 level.

As the anticipated markup of the CLARITY Act approaches, supporters of the digital asset market are raising alarms over the latest draft of the bill. They claim that the revisions pushed by banking lobbyists threaten to undermine the principles of the cryptocurrency industry.

Ban On Yield Payments In CLARITY Act 

In a recent post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), market expert Nick Cash vocalized his strong opposition, stating that the current iteration of the CLARITY Act must be boycotted. 

He described it as a mechanism for banks to manipulate the future of cryptocurrencies, portraying their influence as a detrimental force for innovation in the sector.

The revised version of the CLARITY Act, which serves as a comprehensive crypto market structure bill, introduces significant restrictions on stablecoin issuers like Circle and Ripple. Notably, these firms will be prohibited from offering yield back to passive token holders. 

Title IV of the Digital Asset Market Consumer Protection Act (DAMCA) outlines how regulated banking institutions can interact with digital assets, mandating that stablecoin issuers—defined by the GENIUS Act—cannot make interest payments to holders.

Under the proposed changes, while stablecoin issuers would still be able to provide rewards tied to specific actions (such as account openings and cashback), the ban on yield payments poses a serious concern for the crypto industry, which has consistently viewed yield protection as a non-negotiable issue. 

Cash argues that the modifications may leave crypto-native issuers positioned at a competitive disadvantage against traditional banks. He warned that such restrictions could severely impact decentralized finance (DeFi) and the overall cryptocurrency landscape.

Expressing his frustration, Cash stated that those supporting the revised bill are essentially siding with banks and undermining the crypto movement. 

Strong Public Support For Stablecoin Rewards

Banking institutions have argued that allowing these interest payments could lead to a significant outflow of deposits from insured banks, threatening overall financial stability. 

In contrast, crypto advocates counter that blocking crypto exchanges from paying interest on stablecoins is anti-competitive and detrimental to innovation. Summer Mersinger, CEO of the Blockchain Association, articulated her stance, asserting:

What is threatening progress is not a lack of policymaker engagement, but the relentless pressure campaign by the Big Banks to rewrite this bill to protect their own incumbency. 

She highlighted that the demand to eliminate stablecoin rewards aims to restrict consumer choice and stifle innovative financial products before they have the chance to compete.

Amid this ongoing CLARITY Act debate, Stuart Alderoty, Chief Legal Officer at Ripple, weighed in, emphasizing that American consumers value their freedom to choose. 

He referenced new data from The National Cryptocurrency Association, which indicates a strong public preference—nearly 4-to-1—in favor of allowing stablecoin rewards, along with little appetite for government intervention to curb them.

Ultimately, the future of the CLARITY Act remains uncertain as stakeholders continue to voice their concerns about the implications of increased banking oversight on the cryptocurrency market.

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

Pakistan has partnered with a company affiliated with Trump-linked World Liberty Financial (WLFI) to explore innovation in digital finance and the use of stablecoins for cross-border transactions.

Pakistan To Explore USD1 For Cross-Border Payments

On Wednesday, Pakistan announced it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a crypto firm linked to the Trump Family’s main crypto business, World Liberty Financial.

According to a report by Reuters, the Pakistan Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (PVARA) entered an agreement with SC Financial Technologies, a firm described as an affiliated entity of WLFI, to explore the use of its USD1 stablecoin for cross-border payments.

The memorandum is set to enable “dialogue and technical understanding around emerging digital payment architectures,” and was announced during WLFI founder and CEO Zach Witkoff’s visit to Pakistan.

Notably, Witkoff is also the CEO of SC Financial Technologies, which co-owns the USD1 stablecoin brand alongside World Liberty Financial, according to documentation on the stablecoin’s reserves reviewed by the news media outlet.

Under the agreement, the WLFI-linked company will collaborate with Pakistan’s central bank to integrate its USD 1 stablecoin into a regulated digital payments structure. A source involved in the deal detailed that this would allow the token to operate alongside Pakistan’s own digital currency infrastructure.

It’s worth noting that PVARA officials have previously affirmed that the country will launch a national stablecoin as part of its strategy to modernize payments and support tokenized debt. Additionally, the central bank is developing a pilot for a central bank digital currency (CBDC).

“Our focus is to stay ahead of the curve by engaging with credible global players, understanding new financial models, and ensuring that innovation, where explored, is aligned with regulation, stability, and national interest,” said Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.

WLFI Faces New Conflict Of Interest Concerns

The news comes as WLFI faces some scrutiny in the US. On Tuesday, US Senator Elizabeth Warren sent a letter to Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Jonathan Gould, pressing the agency to halt its review of the bank charter application submitted by the Trump-linked company.

On January 7, World Liberty Financial applied with the OCC to operate as a national trust bank purpose-built for stablecoin services in the US. The move is intended to facilitate the issuance of WLFI’s USD1 stablecoin. Moreover, it would allow the crypto company to provide custodial banking services and gain access to national payment networks under the OCC’s supervision.

The democratic senator cited fears she expressed in July, when she told newly appointed Jonathan Gould that “the OCC may soon be in the position where it has to review a stablecoin issuer application submitted by a company directly tied to President Trump and his family and to draft regulations that clearly influence the President’s finances.”

Unlike most of his predecessors, President Trump has not put his crypto ventures in a trust managed by an independent party, an October investigation stated, pointing out that instead, most of his businesses are owned by a revocable trust, of which he is the sole beneficiary, and managed by his son Donald Trump Jr.

According to the Tuesday letter, Warren’s concerns have gone from being “hypothetical,” as Gould reportedly called them, to being a reality. The senator argued that if the application is approved, the OCC would promulgate rules that “influence the profitability of the President’s company” and would also be responsible for “directly supervising and enforcing the law against the President’s company—and its competitors.”

Therefore, Warren requested that the OCC delay World Liberty Financial’s review until US President Donald Trump divests and eliminates all financial conflicts of interest involving himself or his family members and the company.

Ripple announced Wednesday that it has received a preliminary Electronic Money Institution (EMI) license from Luxembourg’s Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF). This follows on the heels of a similar license and Crypto asset Registration given by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) last Friday.

EU Regulatory Progress

In its press release, Ripple emphasized that these new licenses contribute to its extensive portfolio, now exceeding 75 regulatory approvals worldwide, positioning Ripple as one of the most licensed cryptocurrency companies globally. 

Monica Long, President of Ripple, remarked on the significance of the European Union’s evolving stance regarding digital assets: 

The EU was among the first major jurisdictions to introduce comprehensive digital assets regulation, which provides the certainty that financial institutions need to transition from pilot programs to large-scale commercial operations. 

By expanding its licensing capabilities and refining its payment solutions, the crypto giant aims to facilitate the movement of value and unlock what it describes as “trillions of dollars in dormant capital,” pushing legacy financial systems into a digital era.

Cassie Craddock, Managing Director for the UK and Europe at Ripple, echoed this sentiment, praising Luxembourg’s progressive regulatory environment toward digital assets stating: 

Thanks to the CSSF’s sophisticated supervisory approach, Luxembourg is establishing itself as a hub for financial innovation by delivering the harmonized framework and legal certainty that our industry requires.

She highlighted that this preliminary approval is a crucial milestone, enabling Ripple to offer essential blockchain infrastructure to clients throughout the European Union. 

The preliminary approval, which arrives in the form of a ‘Green Light Letter’ from the CSSF, represents a vital step towards Ripple securing its full EMI authorization, contingent upon meeting specific conditions.

Ripple Highlights UK As Key Market

In its recent announcement regarding the UK, Ripple underscored the importance of the country in its broader global strategy, noting that London houses its largest office outside the United States since 2016. 

Notably, the company has demonstrated its commitment to the UK market through ongoing investments, which include a growing workforce and support for the local blockchain and developer ecosystem. 

Additionally, Ripple has contributed significantly to UK-based blockchain developers and startups, as well as committing over £5 million to UK universities through its flagship University Blockchain Research Initiative (UBRI) program.

In a statement addressing these developments, Stuart Alderoty, Chief Legal Officer at Ripple, expressed pride in the progress made with the EMI license and Cryptoasset Registration from the FCA: 

This is yet another major step forward, and it signals positive momentum for the UK’s digital assets industry, underscoring Ripple’s licensing achievements globally. 

At the time of writing, XRP was trading at $2.1485, up slightly more than 3% in the past 24 hours as the broader crypto market has recovered since the start of the year. 

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