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On Thursday, a new legislation was proposed in New York that aims to impose additional regulations on digital asset firms. The proposed law, known as the “CRYPTO” Act—short for “Cryptocurrency Regulation Yields Protections, Trust, and Oversight”—would make it illegal for digital asset firms to operate without the necessary licenses. 

The announcement came from Manhattan District Attorney (DA) Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., and New York State Senator Zellnor Myrie, who emphasized the urgency of regulating the cryptocurrency marketplace in the State.

NY’s Proposed Crypto Bill

According to the duo’s press statement, organizations that exchange, trade, or transport cryptocurrencies in New York are required to register for a virtual currency license. Failure to do so has resulted in merely civil sanctions. 

In contrast, the proposed CRYPTO Act would introduce criminal penalties for operating without a license, bringing New York’s regulatory framework closer to that of the federal system, where unauthorized conduct can result in up to five years in prison.

The new Act aims to ensure that digital asset businesses adhere to the same levels of diligence and transparency as traditional money transmitters.

Under the new legislation, unlicensed operations would fall under the category of Unlicensed Virtual Currency Business Activity, leading to a series of graduated penalties based on the value of the transactions involved. 

Offenders could face charges ranging from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class C felony for activities involving $1 million or more within a year, potentially resulting in sentences of 5 to 15 years in state prison.

A “Shadow Financial System” 

District Attorney Bragg expressed concern about the growth of cryptocurrency, describing it as a “shadow financial system” that facilitates money laundering and other criminal activities. “Crypto is the go-to means for bad actors to move and hide the proceeds of crime,” he stated. 

Bragg further urged that the time has come for unlicensed cryptocurrency businesses to face criminal repercussions for not adhering to due diligence requirements.

Senator Myrie echoed Bragg’s sentiments, noting, “As the use of crypto has grown, so has illicit activity.” He emphasized that New York, as a major financial hub, must take seriously its regulatory responsibilities. 

Myrie’s bill aims to align the state with the 18 other jurisdictions that have made unlicensed virtual currency transactions criminal offenses, to enhance consumer protection against potential fraud and scams.

This legislative push coincides with a letter from House Democrats to Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Paul Atkins, in which several lawmakers urged the reinstatement of enforcement actions against digital asset firms. 

The letter sent on Thursday and signed by Representatives Maxine Waters, Sean Casten, and Brad Sherman, expressed deep concerns regarding the SEC’s recent retreat from prosecuting violations related to “digital asset securities.”

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

Belarus took a major step on January 16, 2026, when President Aleksandr Lukashenko signed Decree No. 19 to set rules for so-called “cryptobanks.” The move creates a clear legal spot for companies that want to mix token services with classic banking and payment work.

Decree Defines Cryptobanks And Rules

According to the decree, a cryptobank is a joint-stock company that may carry out token operations alongside banking, payment and other financial services.

Reports have disclosed that these firms must be residents of the Belarus High-Tech Park (HTP) and will be listed in a special register kept by the National Bank.

The new document ties cryptobank status to HTP residency, which aims to concentrate activity inside a known tech zone. That requirement also means the HTP’s rules will play a role in daily oversight.

Requirements For Market Entry

Based on reports from regulators, cryptobanks will face dual supervision: oversight from both the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus and the HTP’s governing bodies. This twin structure is meant to let token services grow while keeping closer control of financial risks.

Officials say cryptobanks will follow many of the rules that apply to non-bank credit and financial organizations, including standards for capital, risk controls and anti-money-laundering checks.

That suggests applicants will need to show robust compliance systems before being accepted into the register.

Belarus: Short-Term Business Plans

National Bank officials said that the decree could be followed by real market steps fast. Aliaksandr Yahorau, the First Deputy Chairman of the National Bank, said Belarus could see its first operating cryptobank within six months after laws and rules are aligned.

He added that cryptobanks may be able to issue loans secured by cryptocurrency, provide payment cards linked to crypto accounts, and allow self-employed people to receive salaries in tokens.

What Comes Next For Belarus

The decree builds on earlier efforts to attract tech and crypto business to Belarus, and it clearly signals a state interest in bringing token activity under formal control.

The next steps will include drafting implementing rules, creating the special registry at the National Bank, and deciding capital and licensing thresholds for applicants.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

XRP is in the center of crypto conversations, with social interest on X rising to levels that now rival Bitcoin. Recent data tracking the most searched cashtags on the platform shows XRP consistently appearing among the dominant assets drawing user attention.  Interestingly, this surge in visibility is not happening in isolation but in tandem with a series of regulatory, institutional, and ecosystem developments within the XRP ecosystem.

XRP Surges Into The Top Cashtags On X

Data tracking the most-searched cashtags on the social media platform X shows XRP climbing alongside other cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. However, a closer look at the data shows that XRP has received many more cashtags compared to other cryptocurrencies.

This trend was revealed by Nikita Bier, head of product at X, who shared a visualization chart of recent search behavior on X. The chart data shows that XRP has consistently appeared among the most queried assets on X since December 2025. Throughout the period depicted, top cashtag traffic has been fluctuating with daily rhythm as X users scan the platform and post on X with cashtags.

The share of searches attributable to $xrp slices into a larger portion of the total during days in early January 2026, which indicates extended interest. On some dates, XRP’s presence in the search mix rivals that of $btc and $eth, which are typically the dominant anchors of crypto attention on social media.

The chart also shows how other tags wax and wane alongside XRP’s performance. Some days show greater fragmentation, where interest is spread across stocks such as $iren (IREN), $tesla (Tesla), $gme (GameStop), and $asts (AST SpaceMobile Inc.). Nonetheless, the trajectory for XRP in the first half of January shows a growing base of people actively getting involved in the cryptocurrency.

Top Cashtags Searched On X

Why XRP Is Commanding So Much Attention

Social interest on X is a mix of speculation and ecosystem developments, which XRP is currently sitting at the center of. Behind this spike in attention are tangible developments surrounding Ripple and the XRP ecosystem. 

One recent example is how Ripple secured regulatory approval from the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority, obtaining both an Electronic Money Institution license and cryptoasset registration. Ripple’s regulatory buildout is expanding across Europe, with additional approvals in Luxembourg as part of its push to operate on both sides of the continent.

Interestingly, there are also indications of deeper engagement with Ripple’s ecosystem on the institutional side. Rumors and mentions on X indicate that BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, has started to use Ripple’s USD-backed stablecoin (RLUSD) as collateral. However, this move is yet to be confirmed by BlackRock.

These updates, combined with many others, help explain why social interest and cashtag searches for XRP have recently been on the rise on X and other social media platforms.

XRP’s huge circulating supply is always a point of discussion among many market participants. This discussion is always around how it can realistically trade at huge price levels in the double and triple digits with such a huge total supply. However, discussion around its burn rate has resurfaced due to current figures showing a steady reduction in the cryptocurrency’s total supply. 

According to data shared by an expert on X, XRP’s supply has declined by more than 2 million tokens over the past two years, with comments about how the burn mechanism works, what it actually means for long-term supply, and how it fits into discussions about its valuation and use in large-scale payments.

XRP Burns: Millions Are Gone Forever

XRP does not rely on a discretionary burn program or periodic token destruction events. Instead, the XRP Ledger permanently destroys a small amount of the token every time a transaction is processed. This fee is not paid to validators or any network participant. Once it is consumed by the protocol, it is removed from circulation permanently.

According to numbers shared on X by 24HRSCRYPTO, the total supply stood at 99,988,313,728 about 806 days ago. Today, that number is closer to 99,985,726,061. The difference is 2,587,667 XRP that no longer exist, meaning a little over 3,200 of the altcoin is destroyed per day.

That number may not look dramatic compared to its nearly 100 billion maximum supply. However, it shows consistent on-ledger usage leading to a steady reduction in supply. This has led to the cumulative amount of the token burned slowly moving higher over the full lifetime of the Ledger.

Pre-Mined, How Institutions Fit Into The Design

The post by 24HRSCRYPTO also revisits a long-standing aspect of XRP’s structure. The token’s entire supply of 100 billion tokens was created at inception, although not all were released at launch.

Furthermore, its supply has always been fixed, and burns will continue to reduce the total number of the token in existence. This is in contrast to networks like Ethereum, Dogecoin, and Solana that see their total circulating supply increase over time.

Furthermore, Ripple, which developed the Ledger, has consistently framed the altcoin from a payments and financial infrastructure perspective. This trend is also unlike most other cryptocurrencies, which are built to work in parallel against traditional finance.

24HRSCRYPTO notes that this design reflects an institutional mindset, noting that supply certainty is something banks and large financial players tend to prefer. When trillions start to flow into the altcoin, the circulating supply will continue to decrease. According to the analyst, $100 per XRP is inevitable in this case. This viewpoint is based on the fact that higher price targets for the token are not speculations but a functional requirement for global-scale usage.

Bitcoin is facing a critical test as bulls try to push price above a key resistance zone, hoping to confirm that the recent rebound has real traction. After weeks of choppy trading and repeated rejections, the market is again pressing into levels that could decide whether BTC transitions back into recovery mode or slips into another leg of consolidation. While momentum has improved in recent sessions, the broader structure still reflects uncertainty, with investors split between breakout expectations and caution after the latest correction.

A report from XWIN Research Japan suggests Bitcoin is not currently in a strong directional trend, but instead remains trapped in a consolidation phase defined by range-bound price action and ongoing structural rebuilding. In this environment, the market is attempting to reset positioning after heavy volatility, while supply and demand continue to balance out near major technical levels.

According to the analysis, the bias remains conditionally bullish, meaning upside continuation is still possible if Bitcoin can secure acceptance above resistance and hold it as support. However, the report also warns that short-term overheating risks persist, especially if leverage builds too quickly or price surges without sustained spot demand behind it. With Bitcoin approaching a pivotal inflection point, the next move could be decisive for broader market sentiment.

Whales Take Control as Retail Activity Stays Muted

The report adds that one of the most important shifts in Bitcoin’s current structure is the change in participant quality. CryptoQuant data suggests retail involvement in both spot and futures markets remains muted, while “Big Whale Orders” continue to appear across spot exchanges and derivatives venues.

This points to a market that is being driven less by impulsive speculation and more by larger players gradually positioning through size and patience, shaping liquidity conditions around key price levels.

This trend is reinforced by the 90-day Spot Taker CVD, which has flipped back into Taker Buy Dominant territory. In simple terms, aggressive market buying is increasing again, yet price has not accelerated sharply.

That combination often implies that sell-side pressure is being absorbed, and available supply is being quietly taken off the table at lower levels. Rather than signaling euphoric demand, the behavior aligns more with structural accumulation and controlled risk-taking.

At the same time, futures markets are heating up. Rising volumes and taker buying in derivatives suggest a more speculative layer is returning, raising the risk of short-term volatility if leverage becomes overcrowded. Still, spot flows indicate whales are absorbing supply, meaning futures-driven shakeouts can occur while underlying accumulation continues. The base case remains retail fading as whales take control, unless leverage distorts the structure again.

Bitcoin Faces Heavy Moving Average Resistance

Bitcoin is holding near $95,500 after a sharp recovery rally that began from the late-November lows. The chart shows BTC rebounding aggressively from the $85,000–$88,000 area, forming a clean sequence of higher lows and higher highs into mid-January. This move suggests that buyers have regained short-term control, but the market is now entering a key resistance zone where rallies have repeatedly stalled since the breakdown in November.

The most immediate level to watch is the cluster between $95,000 and $98,000, where price is now pressing into overhead supply. BTC is also approaching the declining medium-term moving averages, which are acting as dynamic resistance and signaling that the broader trend is still recovering, not fully reversed.

A clean daily close above this zone would strengthen the case for continuation toward the $100,000 psychological level and potentially a retest of the $105,000 area.

However, if Bitcoin fails to hold above $94,000–$95,000, the breakout risks turning into another liquidity sweep followed by consolidation. In that scenario, support sits near $92,000, with a deeper pullback targeting the $88,000–$90,000 range where buyers previously stepped in. For now, the trend is improving, but confirmation depends on reclaiming resistance with sustained volume.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com 

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

Исторически в январе биткоин обычно прибавляет почти 10%. За первые две полные недели 2026 года первая криптовалюта выросла более чем на 9%. Да и другие крупные цифровые монеты не отстают. Что движет инвесторами?

Индустрия майнинга биткоина проходит через стадию очищения: слабые игроки, не имеющие доступа к дешевой электроэнергии, покидают рынок, а крупные компании наращивают присутствие, заявили эксперты американского банковского холдинга JPMorgan.

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.

Окружной прокурор Манхэттена Элвин Л. Брэгг-младший (Alvin L. Bragg, Jr.) и сенатор-демократ от штата Нью-Йорк Зеллнор Майри (Zellnor Myrie) представили законопроект CRYPTO, предусматривающий уголовную ответственность за ведение криптовалютного бизнеса без лицензии.

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