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X’s owner, Elon Musk, is allegedly considering integrating XRP and RLUSD into the social media platform. This marks a shift from rumors that the world’s richest man could integrate Dogecoin, given his fondness for the foremost meme coin. 

Pundit Claims Rumors of Elon Musk Integrating XRP and RLUSD

In an X post, crypto pundit JackTheRippler claimed that there are rumors that Elon Musk will integrate XRP and RLUSD into X. This came as he shared a video in which the world’s richest man said the social media platform could become half of the global financial system if done right.  

This aligns with Elon Musk’s vision to transform X into an ‘Everything App.’ However, it is worth noting that the world’s richest man didn’t mention anything about integrating XRP or RLUSD on the social media platform. Musk has only once commented on XRP, in 2024, when he said he thinks crypto helps with individual freedom, in response to a question about whether the XRP Ledger could be integrated into financial institutions in the future. 

Before JackTheRippler’s claim about an XRP and RLUSD integration, Dogecoin had been the coin that had been widely rumored to get integrated into X payments when the payments system launches. This is due to Elon Musk’s fondness for the foremost meme coin, with the world’s richest man referencing the meme coin on several occasions. 

However, Elon Musk has never confirmed plans to integrate Dogecoin or any other crypto asset, including the altcoin and RLUSD, into X. There has also been no confirmed date for the X payments launch, which was expected to happen last year. Meanwhile, although Musk has not mentioned integrating cryptocurrencies, the world’s richest man appears to be warming to them, especially Bitcoin. 

Last year, Elon Musk admitted that Bitcoin, alongside Dogecoin, was based on energy. He then stated that one can issue fake fiat currency, which governments have done, but that it is “impossible to fake energy.”

Musk Likely To Integrate Crypto Into X

Market experts, such as SkyBridge founder Anthony Scaramucci, have opined that Elon Musk will integrate cryptocurrencies into X. In an interview, he said the world’s richest man will build a super app and that he will be using crypto. However, Scaramucci admitted that he wasn’t sure how Musk would go about it, whether he would integrate known cryptos like Bitcoin, XRP, Dogecoin. 

He also raised the possibility of Elon Musk creating his own coin, like Telegram’s TON, or that it could be a stablecoin. In the meantime, X’s Head of Product, Nikita Bier, announced that they are building smart cashtags that will allow users to specify the exact crypto asset when posting a ticker. Users will be able to tap these tickers to see real-time pricing for these crypto assets in their timeline.

Over the weekend, Solana Labs CEO Anatoly Yakovenko pushed back on Vitalik Buterin’s latest case for Ethereum “ossification,” arguing that for Solana, continuous protocol iteration is not optional, it is survival.

The exchange was sparked by a Jan. 12 post in which Buterin said “Ethereum itself must pass the walkaway test,” framing Ethereum as a base layer that should remain usable even if the community largely stops making substantive protocol changes.

“It must support applications that are more like tools […] than like services that lose all functionality once the vendor loses interest in maintaining them,” Buterin wrote. “But building such applications is not possible on a base layer which itself depends on ongoing updates from a vendor in order to continue being usable […] Hence, Ethereum itself must pass the walkaway test.”

Why Solana Can’t Afford To Ossify

Yakovenko replied that he “actually think[s] fairly differently on this,” laying out a philosophy that treats adaptability as core to Solana’s value proposition. “Solana needs to never stop iterating,” he wrote. “It shouldn’t depend on any single group or individual to do so, but if it ever stops changing to fit the needs of its devs and users, it will die.” In Yakovenko’s framing, the risk is not merely technical stagnation; it is a network losing relevance to the people building and transacting on it.

Buterin’s “walkaway test” rests on the idea that Ethereum should reach a point where its usefulness does not “strictly depend on any features that are not in the protocol already,” even if the ecosystem continues improving via client optimizations and limited parameter changes. He also sketched a set of medium-term protocol objectives, ranging from quantum resistance and scalable architecture to long-lived state design and decentralization safeguards, aimed at making Ethereum robust “for decades” and reducing the need for frequent disruptive upgrades.

Yakovenko’s critique is less about those specific goals than the premise that a base layer should aspire to being able to “ossify if we want to.” In his view, ossification is not a neutral milestone; it risks locking in a protocol that can’t keep pace with developer and user demands. “To not die requires to always be useful,” he wrote. “So the primary goal of protocol changes should be to solve a dev or user problem.” At the same time, he emphasized prioritization over maximalism: “That doesn’t mean solve every problem, in fact, saying no to most problems is necessary.”

A key overlap in both positions is a skepticism toward dependence on a single “vendor,” though they operationalize it differently. Buterin wants Ethereum’s base layer to become sufficiently complete that it can remain dependable even if the upgrade cadence slows dramatically. Yakovenko, by contrast, argues that Solana should assume upgrades will keep coming, but not necessarily from any one core team.

“You should always count on there being a next version of solana, just not necessarily from Anza or Labs or fd,” he wrote, referencing major entities in Solana’s development orbit. He then pointed to a future where governance and funding mechanisms could directly underwrite that work, suggesting “we are likely to end up in a world where a SIMD vote pays for the GPUs that write the code,” a nod to both on-chain coordination and the growing role of AI-assisted development.

At press time, SOL traded at $133.84.

Anthony Scaramucci has warned that a new US rule could hand the upper hand to Beijing. Reports say he believes a ban on paying yield to holders of dollar stablecoins will make dollar-linked digital rails less attractive than the digital yuan, which is moving toward paying interest on wallets.

Stablecoin Yield Ban And Dollar Competitiveness

Lawmakers in Congress are considering a bill that would reshape how digital assets are treated in the United States.

“The whole system is broken,” Scaramucci said on X, reacting to the Clarity Act’s restriction that blocks crypto exchanges and service providers in the US from paying yield to stablecoin holders.

According to the bill text, the proposed Clarity Act would bar certain kinds of yield or interest from being paid in connection with holding payment stablecoins, closing off a path some platforms use to offer rewards. This change is woven into a broader effort to define which digital tokens fall under which regulators.

The whole system is broken: The Banks do not want the competition from the stable coin issuers so they’re blocking the yield in the meantime the Chinese are issuing yield so what do you think the emerging countries will choose as a rail system the one with or without yield?

— Anthony Scaramucci (@Scaramucci) January 16, 2026

Banks And Exchanges Push Back

Reports note the move has split industry players. Some banks have warned that easy access to yield outside the banking system could drain deposits and change lending patterns.

At the same time, major crypto firms have voiced concern that a hard ban on yield will blunt the competitiveness of US dollar-based token services and could push global users toward alternatives that offer returns.

The debate has also strained support for the bill, with at least one high-profile exchange pulling its backing amid disagreement.

China’s Move To Pay Interest On e-CNY

China is already acting on a different path. Based on reports, commercial banks there will be allowed to pay interest on digital yuan holdings, a step meant to boost use of the state’s central bank digital currency.

The change went into effect around the start of this year and was presented as a way to encourage people and institutions to try the e-CNY more often.

Why This Matters For Smaller Economies

Money flows respond to yield. If a digital yuan offers returns while US dollar tokens cannot, some governments and firms in emerging markets might favor the payment rails that provide a financial edge.

That is the central point behind Scaramucci’s warning. It’s not just about finance and stablecoins; it is also about which systems gain traction for trade and cross-border payments.

Regulators now face a tough call. Reports say the choice is between strict limits that curb certain crypto yields and looser rules that could pressure bank deposits. Either route carries tradeoffs for stability, competition, and the global reach of the dollar.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson took aim at Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse in a January 18, 2026 video, criticizing what he framed as an industry push to accept the US Clarity Act on terms that would expand the Securities and Exchange Commission’s authority over new projects.

Speaking on Jan 18, Hoskinson used a wide-ranging monologue on market fatigue, industry morale, and the mission behind Cardano and Midnight to zero in on a regulatory flashpoint: a bill he described as swollen by “137 amendments” and tilted toward the SEC. In his telling, the proposal would force crypto projects to “go beg and plead” for relief, with “all new projects” treated as securities by default.

Why Hoskinson Blasted Ripple CEO Garlinghouse

Hoskinson argued that the outcome would be a strategic own-goal, worse, in his view, than the policy uncertainty the industry has been trying to escape. “How is that any better than what Scary Gary [Gensler] gave us under Biden?” he said, referring to the SEC’s enforcement action against the crypto industry under former US President Joe Biden, before extending the critique to lobbying and political dealmaking more broadly.

Hoskinson’s sharpest remarks came when he cited unnamed industry figures he suggested are urging compromise, then called out Garlinghouse directly. “Still got people like Brad [Garlinghouse] saying well it’s not perfect but we just got to get something,” he said. “You know, it’s better than no clarity. Hand it to the same people who sued us. Hand it to the same people who put us out of business, who subpoenaed us, who put us in jail. That’s better. That’s what we fought for.”

He then framed the decision as effectively irreversible once legislated, invoking the long life of US securities law to argue that a flawed framework would calcify. “And tell me, how do we change it? Like we changed the Securities Exchange Act of 1933,” Hoskinson said. “93 years later, have we been able to change it? No. You pass it, you own it forever. Sorry, Brad. It’s not better than chaos. Take the chaos and fight for what’s right. Fight for integrity.”

How about focusing on helping shape the Clarity Bill instead of crashing out on Brad for no reason, Charles? pic.twitter.com/3jDHUiEbNp

— Vet (@Vet_X0) January 18, 2026

While the Garlinghouse jab was the most explicit, Hoskinson placed it inside a larger narrative: that crypto’s purpose is being reduced to a lobbying-driven contest for acceptable market access rather than an attempt to redesign how value and identity are handled online.

He argued that the industry is at risk of normalizing a world of “custodial wallet” defaults, pervasive KYC, and reversible transactions, outcomes he associated with legacy power structures rather than the original “revolution” ethos.

“I didn’t sign up to hand the revolution to 15 banks,” he said, describing a future where transactions can be “frozen at a whim.” Hoskinson linked those concerns to a broader critique of technological surveillance and what he called the loss of individual “agency,” suggesting the industry’s incentive structure is pulling leaders toward comfort and access rather than confrontation.

The remarks landed amid a separate thread in his talk: a rebuke of what he called “toxic learned hopelessness” in crypto discourse. Hoskinson said he had stopped using X/Twitter, still broadcasting, but not reading or engaging—arguing that constant outrage and demands for instant announcements distort how long negotiations and product development actually work.

At press time, XRP traded at $1.95.

House Democrats have accused the SEC of abandoning many high-profile investigations, including its legal battle with Ripple, which has brought attention back to the agency’s handling of crypto enforcement. 

The claims, which were outlined in a January 15 letter to SEC Chair Paul Atkins, raised questions about why several cases were dropped after favorable court rulings and whether political relationships played any role in those decisions. However, according to crypto attorney Bill Morgan, these cases are wrapped up, done, and dusted.

Lawmakers Say SEC Walked Away From Major Crypto Cases

In a January 15, 2026 letter addressed to Atkins, House Democrats accused the agency of dramatically scaling back crypto enforcement since early 2025. The lawmakers claimed the SEC has dismissed or closed more than a dozen major crypto-related cases, including actions against Binance, Coinbase, Kraken, and Ripple, despite having received favorable court rulings in some of those matters. 

According to the letter, companies whose cases or investigations were dismissed donated at least $1 million each to Trump’s inauguration. This raises concerns about an unmistakable inference of a pay-to-play scheme, investor protection and market integrity at a time when digital assets are starting to become deeply intertwined with capital markets.

Much of the letter’s criticism was focused on the SEC’s decision to seek and maintain a stay in its case against Justin Sun, which has now been in place for about 11 months now. Unlike all the other cases, the SEC’s case against Justin Sun has not yet been dismissed. Democratic Lawmakers claimed this move sends a dangerous signal that political connections may influence enforcement outcomes. 

The letter explicitly referenced Sun’s reported financial ties to businesses linked to Donald Trump. One of which was Sun’s reveal in September 2025 that he was purchasing an additional $10 million worth of $WLFI tokens from World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a Trump family business. 

According to the democrats, such circumstances could undermine public trust in the SEC’s independence. The Letter also seeks information related to the SEC’s knowledge of Sun’s ties to the People’s Republic of China and any CCP-affiliated persons or entities.

Crypto Lawyer Pushes Back On Ripple Lawsuit Talk

The letter by House Democrats brings into focus whether political pressure could lead to a new action against Ripple and other firms. However, according to Morgan, this is not possible.

Morgan dismissed the idea that the SEC could simply relaunch cases it has already litigated or closed on the same grounds, pointing to the legal doctrine of res judicata. Under that principle, once a matter has been conclusively decided between the same parties, it cannot be retried on identical issues.

“Too bad the SEC can’t go against those companies again on the same matters. Res Judicata baby. Live with it fools,” he said.

Still, one unresolved question hangs over the broader controversy. Unlike the other crypto cases cited in the lawmakers’ letter, the SEC’s action against Justin Sun has not been formally dismissed and can be revisited anytime.

Featured image from Getty Images, chart from TradingView

Reports say Moldova will roll out its first full crypto law by the end of 2026. The move aims to copy much of the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets rules. This is not a sudden idea. It comes as Moldova continues to line up its laws to match EU standards while it works on closer ties with the bloc.

Moldova Will Mirror EU Rules

According to the finance minister, the plan is to shape a law that looks a lot like MiCA, the EU rulebook for digital assets. That means platforms will need licenses, and services will face rules on how to protect users and stop dirty money.

People in Moldova will be allowed to hold and trade crypto, but using crypto to pay for everyday goods and services will be kept off the table.

What This Means For People And Firms

Reports note the legislation will clarify which firms can convert crypto to the local currency and which cannot. Local authorities say they want to reduce risk for ordinary savers while also giving firms a clear path to operate legally.

Banks and regulators will have a role in writing the details, which will include how exchanges report to tax and anti-money-laundering units.

A Slow Step Toward Openness

Some see this as a cautious opening. By legalizing ownership and trading under tight rules, Moldova hopes to attract clearer investment flows without making crypto a substitute for money.

Reports also mention stricter AML/KYC checks and transparency measures to prevent illicit flows. These parts of the plan are meant to reassure both local users and international partners.

The law is expected to be drafted with input from the finance ministry, the central bank, market regulators, and anti-money-laundering officials.

That mix of voices could slow the process, but it also makes it likelier that the rules will fit the country’s wider financial system. Drafting will be followed by debate and possible revisions before anything becomes final.

A Regional Signal

Based on reports, Moldova’s choice to follow EU templates sends a clear message to neighboring states: align with the EU’s standards and you get legal certainty.

For citizens who trade crypto today in informal ways, the change could mean safer options and official channels to move money. For companies, it means new compliance costs — but a path to operate openly.

Featured image from Reuters/Vladislav Bachev/File Photo, chart from TradingView

Spot Bitcoin ETFs (exchange-traded funds) in the United States have had a relatively positive start to the new year after a wobbly ending to 2025. In this spirit of market positivity, the crypto-linked investment products have just recorded their best weekly performance since early October.

This latest weekly inflow of capital signals the return of demand among the US institutional investors, with the price of Bitcoin also reacting positively in the same period. Over the past week, the premier cryptocurrency saw the return of bullish momentum, surging to as high as $97,500.

Bitcoin ETFs Record $1.42B In Weekly Inflows

According to the latest market data, the US spot Bitcoin ETFs registered a total net inflow of $1.42 billion in the past week. As earlier mentioned, this round of capital influx marked the strongest weekly performance by the crypto-linked investment products in nearly three months.

This $1.42 billion weekly performance also stands in stark contrast to the Bitcoin ETFs’ previous week record of over $681 million in withdrawals. Before this renewed investor attention, the BTC exchange-traded funds had pulled in approximately $1.26 billion in capital since the week ending 17th October, 2025.

On Friday, January 16, though, the US-based Bitcoin ETFs saw a total of $394.64 million in net outflow, ending a mini 4-day streak of capital influx. Leading the outflows was Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC), with $205.22 million of value withdrawn  on the day.

This was followed by Bitwise Bitcoin ETF (BITB), which posted a total net outflow of $90.38 million on Friday. Ark 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (ARKB) and Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) were the only other exchange-traded funds that recorded a negative daily net outflow ($69.42 million and $44.76 million, respectively) to close the week.

It is worth mentioning that BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) tried absorbing some of the shock from the withdrawals with its lone $15.09 million inflow on Friday. This daily performance added to the leading ETF’s weekly $1-billion positive inflow performance.

Similar to the Bitcoin ETFs, Ether exchange-traded funds also saw positive activity over the past week, including its largest single-day performance since launch. According to data from SoSoValue, the ETH ETFs recorded nearly $480 million in positive capital inflows over the past week.

Bitcoin Price At A Glance

As inferred earlier, the BTC price and Bitcoin ETFs moved in tandem over the past week, as demand seemingly returned to the market. While the flagship cryptocurrency had crossed the $97,000 mark earlier in the previous week, it is now trading slightly above the $95,000 level following a minor dip in recent days.

Ethereum’s validator exit queue has dropped to zero, a shift that on-chain watchers say could change how the market views sell pressure. According to on-chain metrics and recent reports, validators who once waited weeks to withdraw are no longer lining up. That alone removes a large, visible source of potential ETH flowing back into markets.

Ethereum Exit Queue Clears

The queue once held millions of ETH. Now it is empty, data from Ethereum Validator Queue shows. This means validators who choose to exit can be processed almost immediately, rather than being forced to wait. The backlog that worried traders in late 2025 has gone.

A change this clear removes an obvious supply overhang and it shifts the balance between how much ETH stays locked versus how much can be spent.

Supply Tightening And Market Noise

Based on reports, staking inflows have been strong enough to pull a big share of circulating ETH out of active markets. With fewer validators lined up to leave, sudden large dumps tied to emergency exits become less likely.

That does not make prices certain, but it lowers one kind of downside risk. Traders tracking on-chain flows now weigh staking behavior alongside spot and derivatives activity when forming short-term views.

Staking Demand Grows

Entry requests to stake ETH are rising fast. Reports note that the entry queue — ETH waiting to become active validators — has climbed to high levels once seen only in big onboarding periods.

Wait times for new activations have stretched into many weeks in places. Institutions and staking services are part of this push, according to market observers, and their moves tend to lock up larger sums for longer.

Security, Yield, And Real Effects

More ETH locked for staking helps the network’s security because more validators are actively participating. It also creates yield opportunities for holders who prefer steady returns over trading.

That said, the presence of large staking pools and services means some risks are concentrated. If one big provider faces trouble, the effects will be felt widely. Reports say regulators and product issuers are watching closely as staking becomes easier to access through mainstream channels.

What Traders Are Watching

Price action will depend on many things beyond exit queues. Derivatives positions, ETF flows, and macro headlines still matter. Still, analysts point out that when a visible outlet for mass withdrawals disappears, the narrative around “forced selling” weakens.

Liquidity conditions can shift quietly — and then rapidly — if any of those other levers move. Market participants are therefore watching withdrawal metrics alongside exchange balances and futures open interest.

Featured image from Gemini, chart from TradingView

2026 got off to a disastrous start for one crypto user, who fell victim to one of the largest social engineering attacks in digital asset history, losing over $282 million in Bitcoin and Litecoin.

How Crypto User Fell Victim To $282M Theft 

According to prominent blockchain sleuth ZachXBT, the crypto theft occurred on January 10, 2026 at around 11:00 pm UTC. Around 2.05 million Litecoin (worth roughly $153 million) and 1,459 Bitcoin (equivalent to around $139 million) was drained from the victim’s hardware wallet after they were tricked into sharing their seed phrase.

The exploiter swiftly transferred the funds across multiple networks to obscure the trail after gaining full control of the crypto wallet. As revealed by ZachXBT, the attacker first began converting the stolen crypto assets into Monero’s native token, XMR, through multiple instant exchanges, leading to a surge in the price of XMR.

Furthermore, the exploiter bridged significant amounts of the stolen Bitcoin across Ethereum, Ripple, and Litecoin through THORChain, a decentralized cross-chain platform that enables users to swap crypto assets between different blockchain networks. Unsurprisingly, this move reignited the debate around the use — or abuse — of censorship-resistant cross-chain protocols, especially during security breaches.

After the news of the attack made it to social media, conversations around the entity or persons behind $282 million theft started, with many linking it to a state-sponsored hacking group. However, ZachXBT categorically stated that “it’s not North Korea,” potentially exonerating the infamous state-backed Lazarus Group.

In a post on LinkedIn, security firm ZeroShadow described the victim as a Bitcoin wallet “belonging to an individual who had been tricked into sharing their seed phrase by an actor impersonating Trezor ‘Value Wallet’ support.” The firm claimed that it was able to track and flag parts of the stolen funds in real time after being alerted by blockchain monitoring teams.

According to ZeroShadow, roughly $700,000 worth of crypto assets were reportedly frozen before they could be fully swapped into privacy-focused assets. This latest incident sheds light on how the digital asset industry is still being targeted by malicious actors.

XMR Price Rallies To New High Following Security Incident

As described by ZachXBT, the attacker, after gaining control of the victim’s wallet, began converting the stolen crypto assets into Monero’s native token, XMR, through several exchanges. In the background, this activity pushed the price of the privacy-focused XMR to a new all-time high around $800 over the past week.

According to data from CoinGecko, the XMR token rallied almost 80% to $797.73 from a weekly low around $450 following the crypto theft. As of this writing, XMR is valued at around $588, reflecting a nearly 25% drop in the past few days.

Starting January 28, 2026, Google Play will stop allowing downloads and updates of overseas crypto exchange and wallet apps in South Korea unless those platforms prove they are registered with the country’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).

Registration Proof Must Be Uploaded

According to Google’s new rule, developers listing crypto exchange or custodial wallet apps must upload evidence that their VASP registration has been accepted by the FIU through the developer console. This is not a technical tweak — it ties app distribution directly to local regulatory approval.

The result is immediate and practical. For Android users in Korea, apps from major overseas platforms will no longer be available for new installs or for updates through Google Play. Existing installations might keep working for a while, but they will not receive app updates or security fixes via the official store.

Local Crypto Platforms Lead Compliance

Based on reports, 27 domestic platforms have completed FIU registration, including well-known names such as Upbit and Bithumb. That leaves several major international exchanges without the needed paperwork, pushing them outside Google Play’s Korean marketplace.

For many users, this change will be felt quickly. If you rely on an overseas app to manage positions or move funds, the inability to download updates may make routine tasks harder and raise security risks. Web access to exchanges will remain an option, but it’s less convenient and sometimes less secure than using an official app.

Foreign exchanges face several demands to gain FIU acceptance. They often must set up a local legal entity, put in place anti-money-laundering systems, and obtain national information security certifications before their VASP filings are accepted. These steps can be costly and time consuming.

How The Market Might Shift

Some analysts say the move will push more trading volume toward Korea-registered firms. Others warn that it could encourage risky workarounds — such as downloading APKs from third-party sites or using VPNs — which expose users to fraud and malware. Reports say that upgrades to app-store rules follow earlier enforcement moves and aim to close gaps in oversight.

App availability will be tied to regulatory paperwork. If a platform shows FIU acceptance in Google’s console, its app can stay listed and updated. If not, the app will be removed or blocked from being updated in Korea’s Play Store.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

The Clarity Act is meant to give the US crypto market something it has lacked for years: a clear legal framework defining how digital assets are regulated, who oversees them, and how crypto companies can operate without constant regulatory uncertainty. That goal is now reportedly under pressure. 

Rumors are that a growing rift between the White House and Coinbase has raised the possibility that the administration could pull its support for the bill, putting one of the most closely watched pieces of crypto legislation at risk.

White House Frustration With Coinbase

According to reporting shared on X by Eleanor Terrett, sources close to the White House say the administration is considering pulling its support for the Clarity Act if Coinbase does not return to negotiations over stablecoin yield provisions. The issue centers on finding an arrangement that satisfies both crypto firms and traditional banks, particularly community banks that lawmakers see as a core stakeholder in the bill.

The source described Coinbase’s recent move as a unilateral action that caught the White House off guard, characterizing it as a rug pull against both the administration and the entire crypto industry. Officials reportedly pushed back against the idea that a single company could speak for the entire sector, stressing that the legislation reflects the policy agenda of US President Donald Trump and not the priorities of Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong.

The Clarity Act is designed to define regulatory boundaries between US agencies and provide clearer rules for crypto markets, including how stablecoins and yield-bearing products are treated. 

Behind the dispute is a broader struggle between the White House and Coinbase over how crypto yield products should coexist with banking regulations. The White House’s position, as described by Terrett, is that reaching consensus with banks is essential for the bill to move forward.

Brian Armstrong Pushes Back On Rug Pull Claims

Coinbase is the largest crypto exchange and crypto custodian in the US, and this has naturally placed the company at the center of negotiations with the Trump administration. The scoop from Eleanor Terrett’s source is that White House officials think Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong is not cooperating, as the bill is President Trump’s bill at the end of the day, not Armstrong’s.

However, the Coinbase CEO publicly rejected the notion that relations with the White House have soured. Responding directly to the report on X, Armstrong said the administration has been super constructive and confirmed that Coinbase is actively working to find common ground with banks on yield-related issues.

He added that the company is in the process of figuring out a deal with community banks, which is the important focus of the bill. Negotiations are currently open, and Armstrong noted that further details would be shared soon. 

Nonetheless, the standoff leaves the Clarity Act in a delicate position, as both sides attempt to shape the future of US crypto regulation without fracturing industry-wide support.

Featured image from Coinbase, chart from TradingView

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has denied existing tension between the exchange and the White House over the content of the crypto market structure bill, i.e., the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act. This development follows a series of contentious moments surrounding the highly anticipated crypto market structure bill, beginning with Armstrong raising concerns over its provisions, which the crypto exchange would rather protest than support.

Crypto Market Bill Still On, Bank Negotiations Ongoing — Coinbase CEO

In a surprising move on January 15, Armstrong announced a public support withdrawal for the Clarity Act. The key crypto figure argued that the current content of proposed legislation was introducing a regulatory structure that would produce a net negative effect on the crypto industry. In particular, Armstrong raised alarm on opposition to stablecoin yield sharing, among other issues, before emphasizing the preference of “no bill than a bad bill.”

Following this event, journalist Eleanor Terrett reported that the White House became furious over Armstrong and Coinbase’s public criticism, which they described as a “rug pull”. In particular, she claimed the Donald Trump-led administration has threatened to withdraw support for the Clarity Act if the crypto exchange fails to return to the negotiation table with satisfactory solutions to the stablecoin yield dilemma. 

However, Armstrong has come out to counter this narrative of a potential fallout between Coinbase and the US government. Rather, Armstrong stated the crypto exchange has only directed to negotiate a deal with banks on how stablecoin yield sharing can fit with the present financial system. 

Notably, the US banking industry has pushed against allowing stablecoin operators to share yield with users, which they project could potentially cause a deposit flight even at interest rates as low as 5%. Armstrong states Coinbase is now exploring a potential deal that could benefit all entities involved following what he described as a “super constructive” meeting with the White House, thereby countering the report of escalating tensions.

Terrett Fires Back At Coinbase Boss

In another X post, Terrett hit back at the Coinbase CEO, claiming her initial report remains accurate. The renowned journalist explains that Armstrong’s rebuttal on supports her earlier claim that the White House has now hinged their support of the Clarity Act to Coinbase’s ability to secure a deal with the banks on the implementation of stablecoin yield sharing.

For context, the Clarity Act is designed to clearly define how digital assets are regulated in the United States and which agencies oversee different parts of the crypto market. It is a crucial piece of legislation, the approval of which is expected to improve investor protection and encourage adoption.

Steak ’n Shake has moved $10 million of Bitcoin onto its corporate balance sheet, a fresh step in the fast-food chain’s crypto push. According to reports, the purchase equals about 105 BTC at current prices, and the company says all customer Bitcoin receipts feed into a so-called Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.

Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Tied To Sales

Based on reports, Steak ’n Shake calls its new approach a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and says it links reserve growth directly to rising same-store sales.

The company has framed the move as part of daily operations rather than a standalone financial bet. Customers who pay with Bitcoin are effectively contributing to the reserve, the chain said. This is a different route from companies that raise capital or borrow specifically to buy crypto.

Eight months ago today, Steak n Shake launched its burger-to-Bitcoin transformation when we started accepting bitcoin payments. Our same-store sales have risen dramatically ever since.

All Bitcoin sales go into our Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.

Today we increased our Bitcoin…

— Steak ‘n Shake (@SteaknShake) January 17, 2026

Payments On The Lightning Network

Steak ’n Shake started accepting Bitcoin at US locations in mid-May 2025, using the Lightning Network to handle payments, according to earlier coverage.

The company reports payment processing fees have fallen by roughly 50% compared with traditional card payments, and sales have risen since the rollout.

Reports note same-store sales gains in the low-to-mid double digits — figures such as 15% have been cited by several outlets.

The $10 million allocation follows eight months of active Bitcoin payments at the tills. Management says the reserve will fund store upgrades and ingredient improvements without raising menu prices.

The firm also ran a branded promotion last year that linked small Bitcoin rewards to specific menu purchases, part of its wider effort to make crypto part of the customer experience.

How The Company Plans To Use Funds

Reports indicate Steak ’n Shake wants the reserve to be a steady, internally funded asset rather than a speculative holding driven by market timing.

Some of the Bitcoin will support operational improvements, while other parts may be kept as a corporate asset. That mix could change if management alters its view of how Bitcoin fits with broader company goals.

Industry watchers point out that $10 million is modest against the biggest corporate crypto treasuries, but it is one of the more public moves by a legacy consumer brand.

The trend of businesses accepting Bitcoin and then holding some of it has drawn attention because it ties everyday commerce to cryptocurrency accumulation.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Bitcoin prices continue to consolidate within the $95,000 zone following the pullback in the latter part of the past week. The premier cryptocurrency is experiencing a bullish January performance marked by a net gain of 11.42% since the new year commenced. However, the effects of the extended price correction from Q4 2025 linger. Using recent on-chain data, a market analyst with the username MorenoDV_ has identified certain holder cohorts who are still experiencing extreme psychological stress that could impact future price trajectory.

Bitcoin Market Risk Redistribution Ongoing – Here’s Why

In a QuickTake post on January 17, MorenoDV_ postulates that the Bitcoin bull cycle remains on despite the negative events of Q4 2025. Notably, the crypto market leader experienced a heavy 33% price correction after hitting its current all-time high ($126,198) in early October.

Although Bitcoin has recorded some modest price recovery in the past month, significant expectations of a bear market remain, driven by a diminished market demand and failure to reclaim key technical levels such as the 365-day MA. Using the data from the Realized Price by UTXO Age Bands, MorenoDV explains that the Bitcoin market is actively redistributing risk. This positive development counters the bearish narrative of a market cycle ending.

With the present spot price around $95,583, the CryptoQuant metric shows that psychological stress is unevenly distributed among Bitcoin holders. Notably, short-term holders, i.e., 1w-1m and 1m-3m cohorts, have realized prices, i.e., $89,255 and $93,504, respectively, below the spot price. This data suggests that these classes of investors are in profit and are experiencing low market pressure, which helps keep fear at bay.

However, mid-term holders of 3m-6m and long-term holders of 6m-12m have realized prices of $114,808, and $100,748 both of which are significantly above the present spot price. However,  both holder cohorts have chosen to bear the discomfort by absorbing losses rather than initiating an aggressive redistribution. 

Therefore, as the spot price rises towards the realized price levels of these stressed cohorts, losses are expected to significantly reduce, eventually easing these pressures on these classes of holders and balancing the market risk. This market development only occurs if the 3m-6m and 6m-12m continue to interpret the present market drawdown as a mere cyclical discomfort rather than a change in market structure. Therefore, there is a need for a sustained bullish narrative and constructive price behavior to keep these investors from seeking a market exit.

Bitcoin Price Overview

At press time, Bitcoin trades at $95,265, reflecting a modest 5.3% gain in the last week. 

Anchorage Digital, a New York–based crypto bank, is moving to raise fresh capital as it prepares to enter public markets. According to Bloomberg, people familiar with the matter say the firm is looking to secure between $200 million and $400 million in new funding.

Anchorage Seeks Major Funding

Reports say the Firm is exploring a $200M–$400 million round to strengthen its business before a possible public listing. The plan would put Anchorage among a small group of crypto-native companies that have tried to list on stock markets after building regulated services for institutions.

The company’s bank affiliate holds a federal charter, a status that gives it a different footing compared with many crypto firms. That federal backing is often cited by investors as a reason Anchorage can offer custody and other services seen as safer by big clients.

Based on reports, Anchorage last raised capital in a previous round that valued the business at over $3 billion, and the fresh funding is viewed as a runway toward a public debut.

Anchorage Digital, whose affiliate is the first federally chartered US digital-asset bank, is seeking to raise fresh capital as it explores a potential public listing, according to people with knowledge of the matter https://t.co/6xLNEJN54W

— Bloomberg (@business) January 16, 2026

Regulatory Edge And Product Push

Some reports say the bank is also growing teams tied to stablecoin work and exploring partnerships that would widen its product set for large customers. These moves appear aimed at making the company more attractive to public investors.

Market observers note that crypto firms have been considering public listings more often as regulation clears up in certain areas and as institutional demand for custody and regulated rails grows.

Anchorage’s timing comes while other custody and asset firms weigh similar steps, a trend that could reshape how big investors access crypto services. The atmosphere is cautious, but there is clear interest in regulated players.

Market Reaction And IPO Timing

According to market chatter, the bank could seek a listing as soon as next year, although some coverage says 2027 is also possible. Sources quoted by Bloomberg gave a range of potential timing, and Anchorage has not provided a public comment on the plans.

If Anchorage completes a successful raise and goes public, the event would signal confidence in firms that combine crypto services with bank-style oversight.

Investors will be watching how the company uses the proceeds — whether to build new products, hire staff, or boost its balance sheet ahead of scrutiny that comes with public ownership. The next few months are likely to reveal more details as underwriting and investor talks advance.

Featured image from Yellow, chart from TradingView

The Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is maintaining an intense focus on the local cryptocurrency industry, as indicated by recent developments. While introducing minimum capital requirements for previously unregulated virtual asset service providers (VASPs), the securities regulator has also formed an alliance with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) against cryptocurrency fraud, among other illegal operations.

Nigerian SEC Looks To Improve Crypto Investors’ Protection

According to local media Voice of Nigeria, the SEC is ramping up efforts aimed at investor protection and transparent market operations in the crypto ecosystem. In a recent meeting with the NPF, the Commission’s Director-General (DG), Dr. Emomotimi Agama, communicated to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, concerns over malicious actors in the financial markets who exploit investors’ trust for personal gains. 

Dr. Agama said:

They cloak their deceit in the glamorous but misunderstood language of cryptocurrency and forex trading. They target the vulnerable, the optimistic, and the simply unsuspecting, leaving behind a trail of shattered lives, depleted pensions, and broken trust. This is not just a financial crime; it is a social menace that erodes public confidence in our entire financial system.

Currently, there is a gap, a seam between identification and enforcement that these scammers exploit. Today, we aim to close that gap permanently.

In particular, the SEC DG is proposing the formation of a specialized SEC-NPF team with members who bring understanding of the financial principles and operations and the tactical intelligence to curb these investment frauds and protect the Nigerian cyberspace. The IGP approved the collaboration request while also stating a strong commitment to help the SEC achieve its aims.

Crypto Fraud In Nigeria

Notably, Nigerians have been victims of several cryptocurrency investment scams in the past few years. The most prominent of these is the Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX) platform, which crashed in April 2025, losing over N1.3 trillion ($916 million) in user funds. 

The Nigerian SEC is strongly committed to reducing such menace as shown by the recent collaboration with the NPF alongside other measures such as a revised minimum capital requirements for VASPs and a published list of all identified fraudulent crypto and financial investment businesses. 

Notably, Nigeria remains one of the fastest-growing crypto hubs globally. According to data from TripleA, approximately 10.34% of Nigeria’s population, i.e., 22 million people, hold one digital asset or the other, therefore indicating the need for an effective regulatory oversight and protection system. 

Justin Bons, the founder and CIO of CyberCapital, has laid out a blunt and unsettling view of where Bitcoin could be headed over the next decade. In a detailed note shared on X, Bons noted that Bitcoin is moving toward total collapse within the next seven to 11 years, which is going to be caused by the way the network pays for its security and the continued fall of block rewards.

Reduced Miner Payouts To Cause Complete Bitcoin Collapse?

Bitcoin is known for its halving cycle, which reduces the block rewards given to miners by about 50% every 210,000 blocks, which comes up to about roughly four years. Bons’ critique focuses on this event as the reason why Bitcoin’s network security will finally fail and cause a complete collapse of the leading cryptocurrency.

As each halving cuts the block rewards further, Bons believes Bitcoin is drifting toward a point where it can no longer reliably fund the miners who protect the network, setting off a chain of risks that become harder to ignore with every cycle. 

Many Bitcoin proponents will argue that the Bitcoin network is still highly secure due to the rising hashrate. However, according to Justin Bons, hashrate can rise even while real security is weakening because advances in mining hardware reduce the cost of producing hashes. The most important thing is how much money is actually being made by miners, since that figure represents the profitability and the cost an attacker would have to match or exceed.

Charts tracking block rewards and miner revenue show that, in economic terms, Bitcoin’s security is already lower than it was several years ago. Keeping security at current levels, he says, would require either transaction fees so high that users would simply stop using the network or the price of Bitcoin to double every four years at a pace that would quickly outpace the size of the global economy.

Bitcoin Miner Revenue. Source: @Justin_Bons on X

Prediction: Bitcoin To Plunge In Two To Three Halvings

The seven to 11-year timeframe Bons outlined for Bitcoin’s collapse is tied directly to its halving schedule. According to the industry expert, the cost of attacking the Bitcoin network for a sustained period could fall into territory that makes such attacks financially attractive within two to three more halvings.

If miner payouts are low enough, Bons believes the potential rewards from hitting multiple exchanges or protocols could outweigh the cost of carrying out the attack. The most realistic scenario for this to happen is through double-spend attacks against exchanges. 

An attacker controlling 51% of the entire mining power could deposit Bitcoin, trade it for another asset, withdraw those funds, and then roll back the blockchain to reclaim the original coins.

He also highlights data showing that Bitcoin’s security budget relative to its total market value has been trending downward for years. This means Bitcoin does not automatically become safer as it grows larger.

Bitcoin Security Budget as % of Market Cap. Source: @Justin_Bons

This leaves Bitcoin facing an eventual breaking point. From here, it is either the network increases its fixed 21 million supply cap to restore miner incentives, a move that would likely split the chain, or the entire Bitcoin ecosystem accepts the risk of double-spend attacks.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, is paying vast attention to its rapidly developing cryptocurrency industry marked by a string of new regulations. In the latest development, the Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has shared a revised minimum capital for all regulated market entities, including operators in the digital asset market.

Nigerian Regulator Hikes Minimum Capital For Crypto Exchanges By $1.05M

On January 16, 2026, the Nigerian SEC released a circular communicating changes in the minimum capital (MC) requirements for major financial entities, namely: core and non-core capital market operators, market infrastructure institutions, capital market consultants, financial technology (FinTech) operators, virtual asset service providers (VASPs), and commodity market intermediaries. 

The securities regulator has explained that the revised MC framework is to boost operational resilience, align capital adequacy, promote market stability, and support innovation in nascent market segments such as the cryptocurrency industry. 

In relation to VASPs, the minimum capital for digital asset exchanges (DAX) and digital asset custodians has been increased from N500 million ($352,000) to N2 billion ($1.4 million).  Meanwhile, all digital assets offering platforms (DAOP) responsible for issuance and primary sale of digital assets to the public are expected to meet a capital threshold of N1 billion ($704,111). 

Notably, the Nigerian SEC’s new circular expands its recognition of multiple VASPs that had been operating in a regulatory void. These include the ancillary virtual assets service providers (AVASPs) who provide auxiliary services such as blockchain analytics tools, etc who are now mandated to operate with a minimum capital of N300 million ($211,200).

Under the new regime, the base capital requirements for both digital assets intermediary (DAI) and digital assets platform operators (DAPO) have also been placed at N500 million ($352,000). In new additions, real-world assets tokenization and offering platforms (RATOP) now have a set minimum capital requirement of N1billion ($704,111). 

According to the SEC, all concerned entities are advised to comply with the new regime on or before June 30, 2027, as failure to do so will result in penalties, including suspension or withdrawal of registration, as determined by the Commission.

Nigeria Government Increases Focus On Crypto Industry

Aside from the SEC’s recent circular, other developments indicate that the Nigerian government is increasing its participation in the cryptocurrency market. 

Notably, the new Nigeria Tax Administration Act (2025) now requires all digital asset activity to be linked to Tax Identification Numbers (TIN) and National Identification Numbers (NIN), effectively capturing the nascent industry as a new tax base.

These recent measures follow a recent partnership by the SEC and the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) focused on cracking down on Ponzi scheme operators and other similar scams.

The price of Bitcoin took the crypto community by surprise when it broke the resistance level around $94,000 over the past week. This has sparked questions on whether this was just a mere bear market rally or the bull run is back on track. Here’s what CryptoQuant, which called the bear market earlier, has to say about the latest Bitcoin price rally.

BTC Still In Bear Market Despite Improving Conditions: CryptoQuant

On Friday, January 16, blockchain analytics firm CryptoQuant revealed in its latest report that the Bitcoin demand conditions are becoming less negative following the recent rally above $97,000. This on-chain observation comes a few weeks after the firm said the BTC apparent demand — at the time — was pointing to the start of a bear market.

The confirmation of the bear market came after the price of Bitcoin fell below the 365-day moving average — a level that has historically determined bull and bear phases. However, the premier cryptocurrency has been on an upward trajectory since breaking beneath this level, up by approximately 21% since late November 2025.

In its research report, CryptoQuant noted that while the price of BTX is approaching the 365-day moving average, it has yet to reclaim the technical level, which currently lies around $101,000. The analytics firm further mentioned acts as a “regime boundary” during bear markets — as seen in past cycles, triggering price rejections before renewed downside.

In addition to the technical hurdles, CryptoQuant noted that while the Bitcoin demand conditions have improved “at the margin”, they still signal market weakness. “US spot indicators such as the Coinbase Premium briefly turned positive, while U.S. ETFs merely paused net selling after offloading ~54K BTC in November, rather than showing sustained accumulation,” the firm added.

CryptoQuant also highlighted that on-chain spot demand continues to decline, with apparent demand down by about 67,000 BTC over the past 30 days. Meanwhile, the Bitcoin spot exchange-traded fund inflows have broadly remained below levels often correlated with durable bullish market recoveries.

At the same time, the rising BTC exchange inflows do not spread optimism but rather increase downside risk. Data from CryptoQuant shows that transfers to centralized exchanges climbed to a 7-day average of approximately 39,000 BTC, the highest level since late November. According to the firm, this is a tell-tale sign of increasing sell-side pressure after relief rallies.

Going by this, it appears that while the market conditions are somewhat improving favorably for price, Bitcoin is still in the bear cycle that started less than two months ago.

Bitcoin Price At A Glance

As of this writing, the price of BTC stands at around $95,200, reflecting no significant movement in the past 24 hours.

Bitcoin literacy and community growth are accelerating in West Virginia, and it’s starting to reshape how communities across the state engage with digital finance. What was once viewed as a niche interest among tech enthusiasts is now gaining traction across broader segments of the state’s population. As residents become more curious about digital assets, conversations are shifting from speculation to understanding how BTC works and what it could mean for personal and regional economic resilience.

Bitcoin As A Tool For Regional Economic Growth

West Virginia has been making headlines in the Bitcoin space recently, particularly with fresh legislative moves as of January 2026. MartyParty revealed on X that the biggest current development is Senator Bill 143 (SB143), which was introduced this week by State Senator Chris Rose.

This is officially titled the Inflation Protection Act of 2026, which would allow the state’s Board of Treasury Investment to allocate up to 10% of public funds into precious metals like gold, silver, and platinum. The bill requires any qualifying digital asset to have maintained an average market capitalization of at least $750 billion over the prior year, which qualifies only BTC. In addition, the bill also allows for regulated stablecoins, but only the US federal or state regulators can approve the assets.

However, the bill frames this as a hedge against inflation and currency depreciation, and empowering the state treasurer to invest in BTC without directly naming it in most of the statute. Although the purpose section explicitly mentions empowering investment in gold, silver, and BTC. These assets would need to be made through qualified custodians, ETFs, or other secure frameworks.

What Pension Funds And Endowments Think About Bitcoin

The Bitcoin price prediction by funds indicates a bullish outlook for 2026. CryptoRank.io has mentioned that the institutional analysts are pricing in a bullish scenario for BTC in 2026. The average target across the forecasts shown is around $150,000 per BTC, implying roughly 75% upside from current levels.

At the same time, longer-term valuation models assume a more gradual growth path. Popular asset manager VanEck predicts BTC could reach approximately $2.9 million by 2050, which equates to around 15% annualized growth broadly in line with the BTC historical long-term performance as a macro asset.

In contrast to institutional forecasts, prediction markets maintain a more conservative outlook. On Polymarket, the pricing base-case range between $110,000 to $130,000. This consensus could shift toward the institutional targets if spot ETF inflows remain strong and if the US regulatory uncertainty continues to decline, including initiatives such as the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act.