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The year 2026 is turning out to be a promising and exciting one, especially for Ripple, as the leading payment firm continues to carry out strategic moves to bolster operations in the crypto and financial sectors. One of the most recent moves making waves in the space is the investment to support LMAX and strengthen market infrastructure.

LMAX Gains Major Boost With Ripple Investment

A recent report discloses that Ripple has taken yet another significant step in its institutional expansion by investing to support LMAX’s worldwide business strategy. With the aim of reinforcing its commitment to building a robust, enterprise-grade market infrastructure, the firm has invested over $150 million to support this strategy.

Ripple’s move underscores its focus on strengthening the railroads that link digital assets with traditional finance, expanding access to regulated trading platforms, and deepening liquidity. Such a move marks the persistent efforts of the company in transforming global trading models.

According to market expert and trader Pumpius on X, this is a far bigger move than a simple strategic investment from the payment firm. Instead, it is a strategic integration move aimed at hardwiring the adjacency of XRP to institutional price discovery and execution infrastructure.

The expert highlighted that LMAX operates high-performance, low-latency venues for FX, metals, and digital assets, which are being used by banks, funds, and professional liquidity providers. This creates a period where size is traded under stringent regulatory standards, and risk is controlled.

By supporting LMAX’s global expansion, Pumpius stated that Ripple is making sure XRP is positioned within venues that institutions already trust for hedging funds, market making, and balance sheet management. This seems to be a better move in comparison to relying on fragmented retail liquidity.

Interestingly, this bolsters Ripple’s end-to-end stack across settlement, liquidity provisioning, custody, and execution. While it may seem complex, this is vital since tokenized deposits, compliant stablecoins, and on-chain settlement are shifting into production.

However, Pumpius added that the outcome is deeper liquidity, tighter spreads, and routine XRP usage within regulated market infrastructure, long before the wider market notices the underlying shift.

XRP Charting Path To New All-Time High?

XRP is regaining bullish traction as market structure points to a historical trend that preceded a massive wave up to previous highs. From a weekly timeframe chart shared by ChartNerd, XRP is forming a pivotal Golden Cross pattern, which could shape its next trajectory.

It is worth noting that the last time this pattern appeared on the weekly Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD), the altcoin rallied to new all-time highs. With the same structure unfolding, a similar price trend is expected to occur.

Currently, the MACD is in oversold territory, and the Golden Cross formation is expected to form in the upcoming weeks. Given that the market structure is protecting a 400-day defense zone, expansion seems likely.

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) believes that the Bitcoin price could still reach $200,000. This bullish prediction comes after the cryptocurrency has seen years of strong performance, climbing past $126,000 and setting a new all-time high in 2025. With ETFs driving demand, whales accumulating, and global adoption steadily rising, a surge to $200,000 seems inevitable for the crypto founder. 

Binance Founder Predicts Bitcoin Price Could Hit $200,000

Bitcoin spent the past few years in a major uptrend, reaching multiple ATHs after the launch of Spot Bitcoin ETFs in January 2024. Following this, adoption and demand for the cryptocurrency skyrocketed, and for months, its price continued to appreciate with minimal pullbacks. 

In 2025, Bitcoin hit a peak above $126,000. While many anticipated this achievement, some raised doubts, especially critics like Peter Schiff. Against this backdrop, the recent statement by CZ foresees another significant milestone for BTC that some analysts still believe won’t happen, at least not for another couple of years. 

Although Bitcoin has since shed a significant portion of its gains since its peak, the Binance founder has boldly stated that BTC reaching $200,000 is “the most obvious thing in the world.” He emphasized that it was only a matter of time before the Bitcoin price rises to this level, representing almost double its current ATH. While CZ acknowledged that the exact timing of the projected rally remains uncertain, his confidence in Bitcoin’s long-term outlook remains unwavering.

Notably, CZ’s bullish prediction for Bitcoin comes as the US regulatory landscape continues to evolve, aiming to create a safer, potentially bullish environment for digital assets. With bills like the CLARITY Act under consideration, the crypto market could benefit from clearer guidelines, increased institutional adoption, and greater investor confidence. Although the bill was initially scheduled for a vote by the US Senate Banking Committee on January 15, the decision was ultimately delayed, leaving the timeline for regulatory clarity uncertain.

Related Reading: Why The $2.9 Billion Bitcoin Whale Buy Could Spell Doom For The Market

In addition to his bullish Bitcoin forecast, CZ has also predicted that a crypto “Super Cycle” could be approaching. The Binance founder pointed to recent developments involving the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a key factor behind his optimism. He highlighted a report on X, revealing that the SEC had officially removed crypto from its 2026 priority risk list, a move that could provide the industry with greater regulatory relief and create more room for future bullish growth. 

Analyst Forecasts $200,000 BTC In 2026

Sharing a similar outlook to CZ, a popular crypto analyst, Rekt Fencer, who has over 336,000 followers on X, has also predicted that Bitcoin could surge to $200,000. Despite the broader crypto market still recovering from a prolonged bear market, the analyst remains confident in BTC’s near-term prospects, noting that the cryptocurrency could replicate its explosive growth seen during the 2020 bull cycle. 

Unlike CZ, who has not provided a specific timeline for his $200,000 forecast, Rekt Fencer believes that BTC could hit this level before the end of 2026. His price chart even points to a potential target of $240,000, which he suggests Bitcoin could reach without major dumps. 

Ethereum is struggling to push above critical supply levels after a brief surge above $3,300, as the market attempts to stabilize following weeks of sustained selling pressure. While the rebound has sparked renewed optimism, price action remains fragile, with bulls still needing clear confirmation before a broader recovery can take hold. Still, the fact that ETH is holding near key levels has led some analysts to start calling for higher prices, arguing that the market may be entering a new phase after the recent downtrend.

Supporting this view, a CryptoQuant analyst highlighted Ethereum Exchange Netflow spot data showing persistent ETH outflows from spot exchanges during price pullbacks, while inflows during upward moves remain relatively limited. This pattern suggests a more disciplined supply environment, where holders are reluctant to sell into weakness and are not aggressively distributing during rallies.

In other words, sell-side pressure appears to be easing, even as Ethereum remains capped below major resistance. If demand returns, this type of netflow structure can support sharper upside moves, as fewer coins are available on exchanges to meet new buying interest. For now, Ethereum is caught between fading fear and unfinished recovery, with the next breakout attempt likely to define the short-term trend.

ETH Supply Tightens As Exchange Outflows Persist

Ethereum’s recent Exchange Netflow behavior suggests that the latest pullbacks have been met with holding and accumulation rather than broad-based distribution. Instead of rushing to send ETH onto exchanges during weakness, many participants appear willing to sit through volatility, reducing the immediate sell pressure that typically accelerates downtrends. This supports the idea that supply is gradually stepping back, even as price remains capped below key resistance zones and market sentiment stays cautious.

However, Exchange Netflow alone is not enough to define direction. A favorable supply structure can still fail if demand remains weak, or if macro conditions deteriorate and force investors back into risk-off positioning. In that scenario, downside continuation cannot be ruled out, even if exchange balances remain constrained.

That said, in the absence of major systemic stress, the current netflow profile offers a constructive backdrop for upside. The lack of supply expansion during drawdowns and the restrained profit-taking during rebounds imply that sellers are not in control. If demand rotates back into Ethereum, price could respond more efficiently because there is less readily available liquidity sitting on exchanges.

In this sense, the on-chain data is not signaling an immediate breakout. Instead, it highlights a market structure that appears increasingly prepared for upward price action once broader conditions align and buyers regain conviction.

Ethereum Bulls Fight Structural Resistance

Ethereum is attempting to stabilize above the $3,300 zone after a sharp rebound from the December lows, but the chart shows bulls are still battling heavy overhead supply. Price recently pushed into the $3,300–$3,400 band, a level that has repeatedly acted as a pivot point during this downtrend. While momentum has improved, ETH is still trading below key moving averages, reinforcing the idea that this move may be more of a recovery leg than a confirmed reversal.

The blue moving average overhead continues to slope downward and sits above current price, highlighting that the broader structure remains pressured. At the same time, the green moving average is flattening near the $3,300 area, adding to the resistance cluster and making this zone difficult to reclaim cleanly.

From a market structure perspective, ETH has shifted from a clear downtrend into a tighter consolidation, with buyers stepping in on dips and building higher lows since early January. However, volume remains relatively muted compared to the October and November selloffs, suggesting that conviction is still developing.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com 

A few days ago, the price of Bitcoin experienced a bounce after weeks of trading below the $91,000 mark. However, this renewed momentum appears to be gradually fading as the crypto market slowly shifts toward a bearish state, with large and retail BTC investors moving in a distinct direction.

What’s Happening Behind The Bitcoin’s Rise

Bitcoin may have slightly pulled back from its most recent bounce, but the price is still holding strong above the $95,000 level. Meanwhile, the latest jump has attracted significant attention in the broader cryptocurrency market, with the move being increasingly viewed as well-justified rather than speculative.

Currently, on-chain and market data are showing a clear divergence in who is driving the ongoing move. Santiment, a leading market intelligence and on-chain data analytics platform, disclosed that itcoin’s surge to a high of $97,800 on Wednesday seemed more than warranted due to the behavior of large and retail investors.

Institutions, long-term investors, and big wallets, together referred to as smart money, have been discreetly accumulating while retail traders have been gradually lowering their exposure and selling into strength. With the rotation of supply from weaker hands to more conviction-driven investors reducing selling pressure, the rally’s foundation is being strengthened.

When whales are buying more BTC, and retail investors are dumping, it reflects a very bullish market outlook. Since January 10, whales and sharks, particularly wallets holding between 10 and 10,000 BTC, have been amassing BTC, collectively scooping up more than 32,693 BTC. This massive purchase represents a +0.24% rise to their collective holdings.

On the other hand, retail or shrimp holders, those holding less than 0.01 BTC, have collectively offloaded over 149 BTC since January 10. Data shows that the dump represents a 30% decline in their holdings altogether.

Santiment highlighted that the key signal underneath the action is that smart money is finally buying consistently, while micro money bows out. Furthermore, it is considered an ideal setup for a bull run. However, how long retail doubts the formed tiny rally will determine how long it lasts, and the “Very Bullish” green zone is still in place for the time being.

Ongoing FUD In The Market Set To Propel BTC’s Price

Even with the recent recovery, Bitcoin is seeing negative interactions from crypto enthusiasts and analysts on social media platforms. This behavior implies that the crowd is not entirely confident in the BTC rally that occurred on Wednesday. Although the development may seem present itself as negative, it is actually a good sign that the rally might extend.

Social data reveals that commentary toward BTC across social media platforms has sharply leaned to a bearish outlook as prices have bounced this week. With markets often moving in the opposite direction of retail sentiment, Santiment noted that the most FUD in 10 days is likely to propel BTC to its first return above the $100,000 mark, which was last seen on November 13, 2025.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has commented on the latest CPI data, which shows that inflation has remained steady in the U.S. Garlinghouse highlighted the potential impact that the pro-crypto policies may have had on the soft inflation data. 

Ripple CEO Highlights Crypto Impact On CPI Data

In an X post, the Ripple CEO noted that the latest CPI data shows a 3.5% reduction in financial services costs for consumers. He then raised the possibility that this decline could be partly due to the Trump administration’s pro-crypto policies. The administration has created a regulatory environment for the crypto industry that may have made financial services more accessible, reducing their cost.   

Notably, the CPI data came in line with expectations, which was a positive for Bitcoin and the broader crypto market. The CPI came in at 2.7% year-over-year (YoY), in line with expectations. The core CPI came in at 2.6% YoY, lower than expectations of 2.7%, signaling that inflation in the country has remained steady. 

Following the release of the CPI data, Bitcoin broke $92,000 and since surged to a new yearly high above $97,000. Major altcoins like Ethereum, Ripple-linked XRP, Solana, and Dogecoin have also recorded significant gains. The inflation data is bullish for the market as it could, in the long run, influence the Fed to make more rate cuts if inflation holds steady rather than trends upwards. 

Polymarket data show an increase in the number of rate cuts the Fed could make following the release of the CPI data. There is now a 27% chance of three rate cuts this year, while a 21% chance of two. Previously, crypto traders were betting on only two rate cuts this year. Trump is also expected to nominate a rate-cut advocate as the next Fed chair, which would be positive for lower interest rates. 

Ripple CEO Also Comments On Crypto Legislation

The Ripple CEO also commented on the CLARITY Act’s markup, just before its postponement. He noted that the markup was long overdue, but that it is a massive step forward in providing workable frameworks for crypto while continuing to protect consumers. Garlinghouse further remarked that he and his company know firsthand that clarity beats chaos and that the bill’s success is crypto’s success. 

The Ripple CEO also mentioned that they will continue to move forward with a fair debate and remain optimistic that issues can be resolved through the markup process. The Senate Banking Committee has since postponed the markup after Coinbase withdrew its support for the bill due to concerns about DeFi and stablecoin yield provisions. Meanwhile, Garlinghouse has yet to comment on the postponement, while Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong believes that progress with the bill hasn’t stalled despite the setback. 

Nexo, a crypto lending platform, agreed to pay a $500,000 penalty after California regulators said it made thousands of loans without the proper state license.

According to the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, the actions involved loans backed by crypto assets and raised concerns about how the company evaluated borrowers.

California Action On Unlicensed Loans

The DFPI found that Nexo issued at least 5,456 consumer and commercial loans from July 2018 through November 2022 to residents in California.

Reports have disclosed that the company did not adequately check whether borrowers could repay the loans, leaving consumers exposed to risky lending. The agency called those practices unlawful under state consumer finance rules.

Nexo Must Move California Funds To Licensed Affiliate

As part of the remedy, Nexo will be required to transfer funds held for Californians to its US-based affiliate that holds a valid license, Nexo Financial LLC, within 150 days.

The move is meant to ensure customers’ money is under a properly regulated entity. The DFPI also required other compliance steps to prevent similar problems in the future.

A Pattern Of Regulatory Scrutiny

This is not the first time Nexo has faced enforcement. Based on reports, the firm previously reached settlements that included roughly $45 million in penalties during actions taken in 2023.

Regulators around the country have been paying closer attention to crypto lending, and this decision signals they expect the same consumer protections that apply to traditional lenders to apply to platforms using digital assets.

Consumers who took loans secured with crypto may now see their accounts handled differently while the transfer takes place. Some borrowers might face changes in terms or servicing.

Industry observers say this kind of oversight can push companies to tighten underwriting and documentation. At the same time, some users worry that more rules could limit their access to certain crypto services.

Regulators Emphasize Borrower Protections

According to the DFPI, California law requires lenders to assess a borrower’s capacity to repay loans and to hold the right licenses before they are allowed to do business with state residents.

By labeling the conduct unlawful, the agency signaled that loan decisions driven primarily by crypto collateral do not exempt a lender from basic checks on repayment capacity. The penalty and the corrective measures aim to close gaps that might have allowed risky loans to go through.

A Cautious Road Ahead

The $500,000 fine is modest compared with the scale of the broader crypto market, yet regulators say penalties are only one tool. They added that transfers to licensed entities and stronger internal controls are key to protecting consumers.

Featured image from unsplash, chart from TradingView

The Ethereum Foundation has published a step-by-step plan to let Ethereum’s main chain validate blocks using zkEVM proofs, reducing the need for validators to re-run every computation themselves. The proposal, shared via X on Jan. 15 by Tomasz K. Stańczak, Co-Executive Director at the Ethereum Foundation, lays out the engineering work needed across Ethereum’s execution and consensus clients, plus new proving infrastructure and security processes.

zkEVM on L1 – the planhttps://t.co/KLz7PoH6q9

— Tomasz K. Stańczak (@tkstanczak) January 15, 2026

Ethereum L1 Moves Toward zk Proof-Based Validation

Already in July last year, the Ethereum Foundation announced its “zk-first” approach. Today, Ethereum’s validators typically check a block by re-executing the transactions and comparing results. The plan proposes an alternative: validators could verify a cryptographic proof that the block’s execution was correct.

The document summarizes the intended pipeline in plain terms: an execution client produces a compact “witness” package for a block, a standardized zkEVM program uses that package to generate a proof of correct execution, and consensus clients verify that proof during block validation.

The first milestone is creating an “ExecutionWitness,” a per-block data structure containing the information needed to validate execution without re-running it. The plan calls for a formal witness format in Ethereum’s execution specifications, conformance tests, and a standardized RPC endpoint. It notes that the current debug_executionWitness endpoint is already “being used in production by Optimism’s Kona,” while suggesting a more zk-friendly endpoint may be needed.

A key dependency is adding better tracking of which parts of state a block touches, via Block Level Access Lists (BALs). The document says that as of November 2025, this work was not treated as urgent enough to be backported to earlier forks.

The next milestone is a “zkEVM guest program,” described as stateless validation logic that checks whether a block produces a valid state transition when combined with its witness. The plan emphasizes reproducible builds and compiling to standardized targets so assumptions are explicit and verifiable.

Beyond Ethereum-specific code, the plan aims to standardize the interface between zkVMs and the guest program: common targets, common ways to access precompiles and I/O, and agreed assumptions about how programs are loaded and executed.

On the consensus side, the roadmap calls for changes so consensus clients can accept zk proofs as part of beacon block validation, with accompanying specifications, test vectors, and an internal rollout plan. The document also flags execution payload availability as important, including an approach that could involve “putting the block in blobs.”

The proposal treats proof generation as an operational problem as much as a protocol one. It includes milestones to integrate zkVMs into EF tooling such as Ethproofs and Ere, test GPU setups (including “zkboost”), and track reliability and bottlenecks.

Benchmarking is framed as ongoing work, with explicit goals like measuring witness generation time, proof creation and verification time, and the network impact of proof propagation. Those measurements could feed into future gas repricing proposals for zk-heavy workloads.

Security is also marked as perpetual, with plans for formal specs, monitoring, supply-chain controls like reproducible builds and artifact signing, and a documented trust and threat model. The document proposes a “go/no-go framework” for deciding when proof systems are mature enough for broader use.

One external dependency stands out: ePBS, which the document describes as necessary to give provers more time. Without it, the plan says the prover has “1–2 seconds” to create a proof; with it, “6–9 seconds.” The document adds a two-sentence framing that captures the urgency: “This is not a project that we are working on. However, it is an optimization that we need.” It expects ePBS to be deployed in “Glamsterdam,” targeted for mid-2026.

If these milestones land, Ethereum would be moving toward proof-based validation as a practical option on L1, while the timing and operational complexity of proving remain the gating factors.

At press time, ETH traded at $3,300.

Despite facing a significant setback with the delay of the crucial vote on the crypto market structure bill, cryptocurrency adoption continues to gain momentum across the United States. Tennessee is now looking to follow Texas’s lead by introducing a new bill, HB1695, aimed at establishing its own Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.

Tennessee’s Bitcoin Reserve Proposal 

According to reports on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the proposed legislation would authorize the state Treasurer to invest up to 10% of state funds in Bitcoin. This initiative includes mandates for secure custody protocols and restricts holdings exclusively to Bitcoin, designed as a strategy to hedge against inflation.

Texas has set a precedent in this area, making headlines last November as the first state in the US to integrate cryptocurrencies into its treasury strategy by purchasing $10 million worth of Bitcoin. 

This move, signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025, was sponsored by State Senator Charles Schwertner and garnered bipartisan support, with a Senate vote of 25-5 in March and a House vote of 101-42 in May.

Now, the proposed Bitcoin reserve bill in Tennessee will need to undergo similar legislative scrutiny to potentially join Texas in making significant strides toward state-level Bitcoin investments. 

Crypto Reserves In The Works

Tennessee and Texas are not alone in their pursuit of cryptocurrency reserves. West Virginia has also introduced its own proposal under bill SB143, which would allocate 10% of state funds for its cryptocurrency reserve. 

This bill empowers the Treasury to invest in Bitcoin and gold as an inflation hedge, essentially making BTC the sole digital reserve asset while additionally allowing for staking.

Missouri, on the other hand, has seen greater progress recently advancing its own proposal to create a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Fund. The bill, known as HB 2080, has successfully passed its second reading and now moves towards further consideration in the House. 

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

West Virginia lawmakers have taken a step toward letting the state put a slice of its cash into gold, stablecoins and very large cryptocurrencies. Senate Bill 143, introduced on January 15, 2026, is being called the Inflation Protection Act and was filed by State Senator Chris Rose.

Inflation Protection Act Details

According to the proposal, the State Treasury Board could place up to 10% of certain treasury accounts into a limited list of nontraditional assets.

Those assets would include precious metals like gold and silver, regulator-approved stablecoins, and digital currencies that meet a very high market-cap test. The bill sets that threshold at US$750 billion averaged over the prior calendar year.

The Market Cap Door Is Narrow

Based on reports, only the largest cryptocurrencies would clear that bar. At the moment, that effectively names Bitcoin as the sole qualifying digital asset, given the US$750 billion requirement. That choice was framed as a way to limit exposure to volatile or fringe tokens.

How The State Could Hold These Assets

The bill does not demand one custody model. Instead, it allows the treasury to hold metals or crypto directly, to use exchange-traded products, or other approved custody setups. The language also contemplates tools like staking or ETPs as options for generating returns, but it attaches rules intended to reduce operational and security risks.

A Policy Shift At The State Level

Rose and backers present the move as a hedge against inflation and a way to diversify reserves beyond bonds and cash. Opponents are likely to press on fiduciary duty, volatility, and the risks of adopting assets with rapid price swings.

The debate taps into a wider trend: several US states have been exploring ways to create strategic reserves that include precious metals or crypto.

What Happens Next

SB 143 has been assigned to the Committee on Banking and Insurance, with further review expected before any vote. Lawmakers will weigh technical safeguards, reporting rules, and how to audit and insure holdings before moving the measure forward.

If implemented, the plan would let West Virginia place a modest, capped portion—10%—of qualifying funds into a narrow set of assets aimed at preserving buying power.

Supporters argue it is a cautious experiment; critics say the risk profile of crypto still demands care. Either way, the proposal will force a detailed policy discussion in Charleston about how public money should be managed when new financial tools are on the table.

Featured image from Corcoran, chart from TradingView

Bitcoin (BTC) is holding above the $95,000 level after a recent pullback from two-month highs, as U.S. regulatory uncertainty and softer risk sentiment weigh on the broader crypto market.

Related Reading: Ethereum Treasury Bitmine Makes $200M Bet On MrBeast’s Company

The pause follows the U.S. Senate Banking Committee’s decision to delay markup on a proposed crypto market structure bill, a move that has cooled enthusiasm after Bitcoin briefly approached $97,000 earlier this week.

Despite the setback, analysts largely view the price action as consolidation rather than a reversal. Trading volume has declined, open interest has eased, and liquidations have risen, suggesting that some leverage is being cleared from the market.

Bitcoin ETF Flows Remain Supportive

Institutional demand through U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) continues to provide a key source of support.

According to Farside Investors, Bitcoin ETFs recorded roughly $100 million in net inflows on January 15, marking four consecutive days of positive flows. BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) led the day with $315.8 million in inflows, while Fidelity’s FBTC and Grayscale’s GBTC saw outflows.

Since the start of the year, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs have attracted nearly $1.5 billion in net inflows. Analysts say this pattern suggests that institutional buyers have absorbed much of the selling pressure that followed Bitcoin’s breakout above $88,000.

Regulatory Delays Add Uncertainty

The delayed Senate vote followed public opposition from Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, who criticized parts of the proposed bill related to decentralized finance, tokenized equities, and regulatory oversight. Lawmakers postponed discussion of the bill, leaving questions about the future regulatory framework for digital assets.

The lack of clarity has contributed to short-term caution across crypto markets. Shares of crypto-related companies such as Coinbase and Strategy also fell after the news. Analysts note that while clearer regulation could support long-term adoption, uncertainty in the near term can pressure prices.

Is $100,000 Still in Play?

Technical analysts say Bitcoin has reclaimed the $95,000 zone, with the next major resistance around $97,500, near the 50-week exponential moving average. Some market watchers believe a push toward $100,000 remains possible if Bitcoin can hold above current support levels and ETF inflows continue.

Related Reading: LMAX Group Adds Ripple’s RLUSD Stablecoin For Global Exchange After $150 Million Deal

For now, the market appears to be in a cooling phase rather than a downturn. Whether Bitcoin can regain momentum will likely depend on regulatory developments, institutional flows, and broader risk sentiment in global markets.

Cover image from ChatGPT, BTCUSD chart on Tradingview

Swift has completed a new set of digital asset interoperability trials with BNP Paribas Securities Services, Intesa Sanpaolo, and Société Générale’s tokenization unit SG-FORGE, extending work that also includes Chainlink and UBS Asset Management as the messaging network pushes deeper into tokenized capital markets workflows. The project matters because it targets the hardest part of institutional tokenization: getting assets, cash, and operational processes to move cleanly across multiple platforms without forcing banks to abandon existing rails.

Swift Hits Tokenized-Asset Interoperability Milestone

Chainlink posted via X on Jan 15: “As part of Swift’s work with Chainlink & UBS Asset Management, Swift completes landmark interoperability milestone with BNP Paribas, Intesa Sanpaolo, & Société Générale.”

The trial, which Swift described as a “landmark” milestone, focused on the “seamless exchange and settlement of tokenized bonds,” with payments supported in both fiat and digital currencies. Swift said the work covered delivery-versus-payment settlement and key lifecycle events including interest payouts and redemption, with participants taking on familiar market roles such as paying agent, custodian and registrar.

Swift framed the outcome as a step beyond point integrations. It said this was “the first time we have demonstrated our ability to orchestrate tokenized asset transactions as a single, coordinated process across both blockchain platforms and traditional systems,” positioning Swift as a neutral coordinator in a market that is rapidly splintering across chains, protocols, and settlement stacks.

A key element of the project ran through SG-FORGE’s infrastructure. Swift said the trial “harness[ed] their digital asset and EURCV stablecoin” to enable DvP settlement for tokenized bonds using both fiat and stablecoins, while also supporting the bond lifecycle events tested in the exercise. BNP Paribas Securities Services and Intesa Sanpaolo acted as paying agents and custodians, and Swift argued the settlement flows executing “over Swift” showed tokenized bonds can leverage existing infrastructure rather than forcing institutions into bespoke blockchain plumbing.

The network also highlighted standards alignment, saying the initiative showcased integration of ISO 20022 messaging with “blockchain-native platforms,” a detail that speaks directly to operational adoption for firms already running ISO-native post-trade and payments processes.

Thomas Dugauquier, Swift’s tokenised assets product lead, cast the effort in institutional terms: “This milestone demonstrates how collaboration and interoperability will shape the future of capital markets. It’s about creating a bridge between traditional finance and emerging technologies.”

Chainlink’s Role

While the bond trial involved European banking counterparts, Swift explicitly tied the work to a broader sequence of pilots, including “bridging tokenized assets with existing payment systems with UBS Asset Management and Chainlink.” In that earlier UBS pilot, Swift, UBS Asset Management and Chainlink tested a model for settling tokenized fund subscriptions and redemptions while keeping cash settlement compatible with existing fiat rails carried over Swift’s network footprint.

Swift also pointed to other recent experiments spanning fiat and digital currency settlement with Citi, digital asset transaction exchange with Northern Trust and the Reserve Bank of Australia, and ISO 20022-based blockchain interoperability with HSBC and Ant International.

Beyond technology, Swift said it has submitted proposed market practice guidelines to the Securities Market Practice Group, arguing that innovation in digital assets should not come “at the expense of systemic stability” and that clearer practices can reduce onboarding complexity for institutions.

With the trial series “now complete,” Swift said it is focused on adding “a blockchain-based ledger” to its infrastructure stack, starting with real-time, 24/7 cross-border payments “designed in collaboration with over 30 banks worldwide.”

At press time, Chainlink (LINK) traded at $13.78.

The XRP price is pulling significant attention on low timeframes, but not for the reason many investors might expect. While exchange-traded funds (ETFs) linked to the token continue to attract steady inflows, the price of XRP has moved in the opposite direction.

Over the past 24 hours, the asset slipped toward the $2.07 level, extending a short-term pullback that has puzzled traders watching strong institutional demand in the background.

This divergence between ETF activity and price performance reflects a mix of broader market weakness, technical resistance, and profit-taking after XRP’s earlier rally from the $1.80 area. Rather than reacting to negative headlines, the token’s recent decline appears driven by short-term trading dynamics.

ETF Inflows Remain Strong, But XRP Price Lags

XRP ETFs have continued to record consistent inflows since their launch. Data shows that these products have accumulated more than $1.26 billion in net inflows, with no recorded outflow days so far. On January 15 alone, XRP ETFs attracted about $17 million, outperforming Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana ETFs.

Institutional interest also appears stable beyond ETFs. Exchange-held XRP balances have fallen below 2 billion tokens, down from over 4 billion in late 2025. This suggests fewer tokens are readily available for selling, a trend often associated with longer-term accumulation.

Despite these supportive factors, XRP’s price has struggled to gain momentum. The token reached $2.39 earlier in January but has since slipped back toward the $2.00–$2.10 range. Over the past week, it is down roughly 3%, even as ETF inflows remain steady.

Key Resistance at $2.13 Caps Upside

Short-term technical levels are playing a major role in the XRP price behavior. The $2.13 area has acted as a strong resistance zone, with traders repeatedly selling into rallies near that level.

During the latest session, XRP fell from around $2.15 to $2.07 after being rejected near $2.13 on above-average volume. A brief spike in selling pushed the XRP price to a low near $2.059 before buyers stepped in, leading to a modest rebound.

Market structure shows a series of lower highs and lower lows, a pattern that reflects short-term bearish control. As long as XRP remains below $2.13, rallies are likely to attract selling rather than sustained buying.

Broader Market and Technical Signals Weigh on XRP

The wider crypto market has also been under pressure, with the global market cap recently shedding tens of billions of dollars in a single day. In this environment, traders tend to reduce risk, even in assets with strong institutional inflows.

Adding to the cautious tone, some technical indicators have turned less supportive. On the weekly chart, the XRP price has moved below its SuperTrend line, a signal often interpreted as a shift toward bearish conditions. This has contrasted with renewed “super cycle” talk circulating on social media.

While XRP’s long-term outlook may benefit from regulatory progress in Europe and continued ETF demand, short-term price action remains driven by technical resistance and profit-taking. For now, the token appears to be consolidating rather than starting a new upward trend.

Cover image from ChatGPT, XRPUSD chart from Tradingview

Iran’s on-chain crypto activity surged to about $7.80 billion in 2025, driven in large part by mass protests that began in late December 2025.

According to Chainalysis, the rise reflects both ordinary people moving assets out of banks and state-linked actors shifting funds on blockchain networks.

The shift was sharp and sudden; many withdrawals moved from local exchanges into personal wallets as people looked for ways to safeguard savings.

Iran Protests Push People Toward Bitcoin

Based on reports, Bitcoin withdrawals from Iranian exchanges rose noticeably during the unrest. Some transfers happened in short, intense bursts when internet access was still available.

Many Iranians chose self custody — sending crypto to private wallets rather than keeping it on exchanges — as the rial lost value and access to traditional finance tightened.

Inflation in the country was reported at about 40–50% in recent months, which helped push more households to seek alternatives for storing value.

State Actors And Civilian Use Diverge

Chainalysis data shows complexity in the flows. Addresses linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were tied to roughly half of the total crypto volume received in Iran during Q4 2025.

That does not mean ordinary use did not rise — it did. But the numbers point to crypto serving different roles at once: it can be a shelter for households when local currency collapses, and it can be a channel for state-linked actors to move funds. Analysts warn that these two uses can mask one another in on-chain tallies.

Daily crypto transfers and total transaction volumes have jumped sharply during periods of unrest in Iran. Source: Chainalysis Economic Fear Meets Practical Steps

People acted quickly. When banks and payment systems were uncertain or blocked, crypto offered a way to move value across borders without the usual banking rails.

Some transfers were small. Others were larger, tied to families or businesses trying to protect capital. According to the sources, these spikes in activity coincided with other significant occurrences involving geopolitical crises and specific cyber attacks that contributed to the erosion of faith in the local infrastructure.

Internet Blackouts Drive Self Custody

The Iranian government has imposed internet blackouts in response to the escalating protests. By controlling the online access, Iranians resorted to the windows of opportunity to transfer money. The transfer of money to private accounts became a common practice during the online windows.

That pattern — brief but intense bursts of withdrawals — shows how people adapt quickly to changing conditions. It also explains why on-chain volume readings jumped so high in 2025.

What The Numbers Suggest

The $7.78 billion number measures on-chain crypto volume tied to Iranian activity over the year, not the market value of holdings inside the country. Based on reports, that figure captures a mix of ordinary transfers, commercial activity, and movements linked to sanctioned entities.

Featured image from Stringer/Via Reuters, chart from TradingView

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

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

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

XRP Gets A Wall Street Wrapper

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Leonidas (@LeoHadjiloizou) January 15, 2026

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

At press time, XRP traded at $2.07.

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

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

Coinbase CEO Voices Alarm Over CLARITY Act’s Potential Impact

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

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

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

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

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

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

Crypto Czar Urges Industry To Resolve Differences

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bitmine Is Making An Investment In MrBeast-Owned Firm

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

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

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

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

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

Housenbold noted:

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

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

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

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

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

Ethereum Price

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

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

New Trading Solutions With Ripple’s Stablecoin

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

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

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

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

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

3 Major Focus Areas For LMAX Group With RLUSD

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Banking System Could Face $6 Trillion Problem

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stablecoin Rewards Debate Intensifies

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hayes Links Bitcoin To Dollar Liquidity

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

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

Government Support Sends Tech Higher

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

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

Policy And Military Spending Matter

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

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

Inflation Data Pushed Crypto Higher This Week

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

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

A Bull Case With Conditions

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

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

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

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

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

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

Bitmine’s Growing Staking Footprint Signals Long-Term Conviction

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

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

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

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

Ethereum Tests Key Weekly Resistance

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

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

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

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

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com