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A recently ratified law in the state of  Louisiana has helped seniors recover $200,000 following a Bitcoin ATM-related scam operation. This development represents a fine example of government protecting users’ interests even while encouraging digital asset adoption.

Louisiana Law Presents Major Hurdle For Crypto Scammers

According to a report by local media 7KPLC, a group of scammers recently targeted senior citizens in Louisiana and Texas in a sophisticated scheme resulting in at least four known victims. It was gathered that the scammers usually deceived the unsuspecting seniors into believing their bank accounts had been compromised and falsely implicated them in child pornography charges.

Thereafter, these bad actors would proceed to threaten the elderly citizens with arrest unless they were obliged to pay lump sums of money. Eventual victims were guided to Bitcoin ATMs, which allow users to swap cash for cryptocurrency, to process these fraudulent transactions to anonymously owned wallets.

According to data from Bitcoin ATM Map, there are 288 resident Bitcoin ATM/Tellers in Louisiana, representing the Southeastern state’s friendliness towards the crypto industry. However, a recently passed legislation in Louisiana introduced several measures to combat crypto scams. These include mandatory signage on all Bitcoin ATMs, which states that no government-affiliated person or entity would ever demand cash deposits into these machines. 

Furthermore, the machines are also programmed to display warning messages to users during transactions. In particular, users are advised to stay alert to scams, especially when provided with a QR code or wallet ID by someone else. In addition, the new regulations include a $3,000 daily limit on deposits and a 72-hour waiting period for all transactions to potentially detect all malicious fund transfers and scams. 

According to KPLC, these new regulations allowed authorities to recover $200,000 for four targeted senior citizens. Other victims of this scam are admonished to reach out to the AARP Louisiana branch, a large nonprofit, nonpartisan US organization focused on supporting and advocating for people 50 years and older and their families.

Bitcoin ATM Scam: The Next Menace?

While Louisiana has recently formulated laws to tackle scams involving the Bitcoin ATMs, Bitcoinist reported that the Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway had recently started an investigation into companies operating these machines, citing concerns around deceptive fee structure and fraudulent use by bad actors.

As seen in Louisiana, Hanaway claimed to have received reports of new scam operations involving the key use of Bitcoin ATMs, thus resulting in the statewide probe. Notably, companies under the AG’s investigation include GPD Holdings, Rockitcoin, Bitcoin Depot, Athena Bitcoin, and Byte Federal.

Иранский Корпус стражей исламской революции (КСИР) использовал для обхода международных санкций две криптовалютные биржи, зарегистрированные в Великобритании. Итого через две биржи за примерно два года властям Ирана удалось перевести около $1 млрд, сообщили аналитики компании TRM Labs.  

Nasdaq and the CME Group have stepped up a joint effort to give big investors a single, regulated way to measure crypto markets. According to Nasdaq, the firms have reintroduced the Nasdaq Crypto Index as the Nasdaq-CME Crypto Index (NCI), a benchmark built to support products like ETFs and structured funds. The announcement was made early this month and is presented as a move to bring clearer rules and governance to index-based crypto exposure.

Nasdaq And CME Combine Index Expertise

Reports have disclosed the NCI will be calculated by CF Benchmarks and overseen by joint committees that include representatives from both exchanges. That arrangement is intended to mirror traditional index practices used in equities and derivatives, with regular reconstitution and transparent methodology. CF Benchmarks has already handled Nasdaq Crypto Index reconstitutions, including the reconstitution on December 1, 2025, which is part of the index family’s work ahead of the rebrand.

What The Exchanges Say

CME’s public materials describe the move as part of an expanded collaboration that links Nasdaq’s indexing work with CME’s regulated trading platform. The CME website also highlights plans for more product and contract activity tied to crypto, and it points to the ability to support markets that operate around the clock. Based on those reports, the aim is to give institutional managers a benchmark they can use when building regulated products.

Index For Diversified Crypto Exposure

According to news releases and market reporting, the Nasdaq-CME Index is not limited to a single token. The index tracks a basket of major coins so that a product tied to it would offer diversified exposure rather than a single-asset bet. Market outlets picked up the story quickly; several trading and financial news sites published pieces within days of the announcement, noting the index name change and the partners’ shared governance approach.

Operational And Timing Details

Nasdaq has also updated its market data listings to reflect name changes tied to the index family, with some effective dates scheduled later in January 2026. That timing suggests the firms plan a phased rollout: first the naming and governance alignment, then data and product support for issuers and market makers. The reconstitution timetable from CF Benchmarks shows the operational work has already been underway since December 2025.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

The Bitcoin Spot ETFs have experienced a turbulent start to 2026 after early inflows were wiped out by four consecutive days of withdrawals. Amid Bitcoin’s recent failure to sustain its market recovery above $94,000, institutional investors are seeking more stability, especially considering the falling chances of a possible interest rate cut.

Bitcoin Spot ETFs See Market Weakness Extend Into 2026 

According to data from the ETF tracker site, SoSoValue, the Bitcoin ETFs registered $681 million in net outflows in the first full trading week of 2026. Notably, these investment funds had commenced the year on a positive note, notching $697.2 million in net deposits on January 5 after an initial $471.1 million inflow on January 2.

However, a combined net outflow of $1.378 billion between January 6-9 soon cleared out all positive momentum driven by the earlier inflows.  In analyzing individual ETF performance, Fidelity’s FBTC experienced the largest net redemptions valued at $481.32 million. Following closely was Grayscale’s GBTC, which recorded a net outflow of $171.79 million. 

Meanwhile, Ark/21Shares’ ARKB also had a sizable contribution to the overall weekly negative performance as its withdrawals exceeded deposits by $45.34 million. Other Bitcoin Spot ETFs with red performances include Grayscale’s BTC, Bitwise’s BITB, and VanEck’s HODL, with net outflows varying between $3 million and $22 million. 

On the other side of the spectrum, BlackRock’s IBIT recorded the largest net inflow of the week, valued at $25.86 million. The BlackRock flagship crypto ETF continues to dominate with a remarkable cumulative net inflow of $62.41 billion, as its total net assets climb to $69.88 billion. 

Other ETFs with a positive performance include Invesco’s BTCO, Franklin Templeton’s EZBC, Valkyrie’s BRRR, and WisdomTree’s BTCW, which also attracted net investments between $1 million and $15 million. Meanwhile, Hashdex’s DEFI stood alone as the only ETF with a zero netflow. At the time of writing, the Bitcoin Spot ETFs boast a cumulative total net inflow of $56.40 billion. Meanwhile, their total net assets are valued at $116.86 billion and represents 6.48% of the Bitcoin market cap.

Ethereum ETFs Mirror Bitcoin Counterparts

Interestingly, the Ethereum Spot ETFs produced a similar weekly performance. Initial net deposits of $282.87 million between January 5 and January 6 were followed by three consecutive days of heavy withdrawals, resulting in a net outflow of $68.57 million. The Ethereum ETFs now hold $18.70 billion in total net assets, representing 5.04% ofthe  Ethereum market cap. 

At the time of writing, Bitcoin exchanges hands at $90,422 as price movement over the last week resulted in a minor 0.17% decline. Meanwhile, Ethereum is valued at $3,088 while its daily trading volume crashes by 63.46%. 

Featured image from Forbes, chart from Tradingview

A new wave of political ads is pushing a sharp message into living rooms and phone banks: tell your senator to back crypto legislation only if decentralized finance, or DeFi, is left out.

According to broadcast logs and industry reports, the spots have been running on Fox News and include a call line for viewers to contact senators directly. The group behind the campaign identifies itself as “Investors For Transparency.”

Ad Campaign Targets Lawmakers With Hotlines And Numbers

According to reports, the ads warn of broad risks if DeFi is folded into federal law. They cite a figure — $6.6 trillion — that has been used in public discussion about how much in bank deposits might be affected if stablecoins gain wide acceptance with interest-like features.

The ads urge people to call Senate offices and push senators to strip DeFi provisions from the CLARITY Act ahead of a scheduled markup on January 15, 2026. Phone numbers and a web address are shown in the ads, encouraging immediate contact.

A new advocacy group, ‘Investors For Transparency,’ is running prime-time ads on @FoxNews, urging viewers to oppose DeFi provisions in the upcoming crypto market structure bill just a week before senators are due to cast votes on it in relevant committees next week. The treatment… pic.twitter.com/jsZ3GcDuVX

— Eleanor Terrett (@EleanorTerrett) January 10, 2026

Senate Timetable And Political Pressure

Based on reports, the CLARITY Act is set for consideration by the Senate Banking Committee, and committee members are getting calls from both sides. Senate Banking Committee Chair Tim Scott has said he expects the committee to move on crypto legislation, and senators are weighing how to balance investor protections with innovation.

Outside groups and industry players have ramped up outreach. Some hope the bill moves quickly, while others see the political heat as likely to slow progress.

Crypto: Industry Response And Questions About Funding

Crypto firms and DeFi supporters have pushed back. Hayden Adams, CEO of Uniswap Labs, publicly criticized the group’s name as misleading and questioned who is funding the ads.

Based on public filings and media reporting, no clear single donor has been identified that explains the scale of the TV buy. Industry leaders say that a campaign attacking DeFi while claiming to speak for investors should disclose its backers.

The ads’ emphasis on bank-deposit risk has been called overstated by some market watchers, who argue that the figures are speculative and depend on many assumptions.

What The Campaign Wants And What It Means

Reports say that the ads want senators to approve a version of the CLARITY Act without language covering decentralized finance platforms or new stablecoin rules that could allow interest-like yields.

Supporters of that view say the rules would protect the traditional banking system from a sudden outflow of deposits. Opponents say excluding DeFi would lock in regulatory uncertainty and hurt US competitiveness in an area where developers and users already operate globally.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

There is ongoing speculation in the crypto community that Ripple, the crypto payments company, and Amazon, the global tech giant, may soon enter into a partnership. While some claims indicate that an alliance has already been formed, others suggest it may be in the works. Whatever the case, no confirmation has yet been issued to verify the rumor’s validity. 

Rumors Swirl About A Potential Ripple And Amazon Deal

Rumors about a possible connection between Ripple and Amazon are quickly gaining attention in the crypto community. Prominent analysts and influential XRP supporters are speculating that the crypto payments company and the tech giant may be heading into a possible partnership. 

While there has been no concrete evidence to support such claims, advocates like Stellar Rippler, who has over 24,000 followers on X, alleged that Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse had hinted years ago that Amazon might use XRP for payments and settlement. The supporter argued that previous nondisclosure agreements were not just speculation, but part of a broader plan. Moreover, he believes that recent developments are increasingly aligning with those earlier hints as new details surface. 

Abdullah Nassif, host of the Good Evening Crypto show, also weighed in on the widespread speculation. He said Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Ripple are looking at using Amazon Bedrock AI with the XRP Ledger (XRPL) to speed up system log analysis from days to just minutes. Crypto expert John Squire added that AWS had previously shown interest in XRP for payments. He claimed the company even assigned a team member to explore XRP’s use cases, which has now grown into talks about combining Amazon Bedrock with XRPL. 

Despite the growing rumors about the company, Amazon, and XRP, neither the crypto company nor the tech giant has officially confirmed any partnership or future collaboration. 

Amazon Web Services Adds The Firm To Partner Profile Page

It could be argued that one of the major reasons rumors of a potential Ripple and Amazon partnership are growing is the crypto payments company’s recent appearance on the AWS Partner Profile page. On its official site, Amazon Web Services highlights the firm’s evolving role in the financial sector, positioning it as a key infrastructure provider for global payments. 

It showcased the company’s core features and products, including real-time payments, On-Demand Liquidity (ODL), and the ability to send international payments through a single integration. AWS also described RippleNet as a decentralized network of banks and payment providers that enables real-time messaging, clearing, and settlement of financial transactions. According to the cloud computing platform, the payment firm connects banks, digital asset exchanges, and corporations through RippleNet to facilitate global money transfers. 

AWS also disclosed several RippleNet use cases, including e-invoicing, real-time cash pooling, global currency accounts, international P2P payments, real-time remittances, and more. The cloud computing network has revealed that Ripple has collaborated with more than 100 financial institutions. Many of these organizations are based in different regions outside the US.

Despite shifting market dynamics and evolving macro signals, Bitcoin keeps its long-term trend, while its deeper narrative is beyond headline price movements. This divergence between surface-level price action and underlying structure suggests that the BTC long-term thesis remains intact even as the forces shaping its next phase become more complex and more mature.

Why Bitcoin Trend Strength Persists Despite Cooling Momentum

Bitcoin remains firmly aligned with its long-term uptrend, but the more important signal is not showing up in price. CryptoELITES revealed on X that liquidity has been quietly tightening, and one of the clearest signals is TOTAL/BTC, which continues to bleed while BTC holds its structural levels. 

This kind of setup does not leave the market in panic; it just needs patience. If liquidity conditions begin to ease while the BTC trend continues to hold, the response won’t be instant. However, it will emerge gradually through rotations first, but not headlines. “How are you reading this phase right now?” CryptoELITES ask.

The recent dip in Bitcoin doesn’t change the broader setup unfolding across the market. While BTC has chopped lower over the past few days, meme coins across the board have been quietly forming some of the cleanest corrective structures seen in this cycle. Crypto analyst 0xBossman highlighted that these meme coins have been reacting strongly to even modest BTC bounces and holding their structure during flash dips.

In combination with the tight corrective structures, overwhelming bearish sentiment across major assets has swung bearish again. At the same time, meme coins continue to act as the leading edge of this broader rally, which will lead to an explosion soon. From 0xBossman’s perspective, this setup suggests that 2026 is where many of these meme coins will fully express their upside. The signals are already visible for anyone paying attention.

From Downtrend Pressure To Structural Relief

According to Ardi, one of the more constructive developments for Bitcoin over the past week has been the reclaim and hold of the 200 Simple Moving Average (200-SMA) on the 4-hour chart, a level that has acted as a reliable trend filter throughout this cycle. When this move slopes downward, price action will struggle to maintain local higher highs, and downside flushes will continue to appear.

However, when the price regains the level and begins to turn up, the market will transition into a phase of sustained momentum. What stands out is that this is the first reclaim and hold of the BTC 4-hour 200-SMA since the October crash. This doesn’t automatically signal that the bull run is back, but it would give BTC a better chance to continue pushing through the $94,500 level.

The price of Bitcoin ended the past year in the red despite reaching multiple all-time highs above the six-figure valuation mark. While the market leader has made a solid start to 2026, concerns are still swirling around about BTC’s prospects over the coming months, especially in relation to the four-year cycle theory.

Why $65,000 Could Be Crucial In This Cycle

In a recent post on the X platform, Jurrien Timmer, Director of Global Macro at Fidelity, weighed in on the current structure of the Bitcoin price. The market expert said that the premier cryptocurrency has taken a breather in the past few months and lagged compared to other assets, like gold, in 2025.

Timmer revealed that Bitcoin is drifting away from the historically steep power law trajectory and instead following the internet S-curve. This structure shift also opened the door to the ongoing conversation about Bitcoin’s typical cyclical behavior.

According to several pundits, the traditional Bitcoin four-year halving-driven cycle is now dead, and a new structural upward wave seems to be taking root in the market. Proponents of “Bitcoin four-year cycle is dead” often state institutional adoption and spot exchange-traded funds as evidence of the new bullish market structure.

While Timmer agrees that the relevance of the BTC halving event is decreasing, the Fidelity Director of Global Macro rejected the idea that the premier cryptocurrency would no longer see bear markets. “I’m skeptical, not about the waning power of the halving cycle (with which I agree), but the idea that bear markets are no longer going to happen,” Timmer said.

Speaking from a technical point of view, Timmer identified $65,000 — around the previous cycle high — as a crucial level for the price of Bitcoin. Meanwhile, the next most important level lies around $45,000, the power law trendline.

For context, the power law is a mathematical model that suggests that Bitcoin’s growth follows a predictable and consistent trajectory. This metric, often used to identify key levels in price analysis, shows the correlation between the value of BTC and time.

Timmer noted that while the power law trendline is far from the current price of BTC, it could move to $65,000 if the flagship cryptocurrency enters a prolonged consolidation phase for the next year. This could make the $65,000 level an even more important zone for the Bitcoin price.

Bitcoin Price At A Glance

As of this writing, the price of BTC stands at around $90,520, reflecting no significant movement in the past 24 hours.