Crypto News

- Altcoins Hyperliquid, Pump.fun Post Double-Digit Weekly Gains as Bitcoin Nears $90K Altcoins including Hyperliquid, River, and Pump.fun have seen a sustained rally over the past week, notching double-digit gains over the period. Hyperliquid is the clear winner among the top 100 coins by market cap, surging 65% over the past week, according to CoinGecko data. Pump.fun, Canton, and River followed closely with 33.6%, 23.3%, and 21.8% gains respectively. The surge in altcoins comes as Bitcoin consolidates between $95,000 and $81,000, which has seen the top crypto’s dominance form a local top around 59.94 to 59.50. Bitcoin is currently trading at $89,373, up 1.9% on the day, per CoinGecko data. Meanwhile, the past week has seen...

- Key Takeaways PayPal and the National Cryptocurrency Association said crypto payments are moving from edge-case experimentation toward routine checkout, with adoption strongest among large enterprises. In a report released Tuesday, the groups said 39% of U.S. merchants surveyed already accept cryptocurrency, and 84% expect crypto payments to become common within five years. Crypto Adoption Driven by Growing Customer Demand The survey points to a basic dynamic: shoppers ask, merchants follow. Nearly 88% of merchants said they have received customer inquiries about paying with crypto, while 69% said customers want to use crypto at least monthly. PayPal framed crypto acceptance as a practical growth lever, not a branding stunt...

- Crypto markets are experiencing a pause amidst a slew of FOMC-related news. Bitcoin's USD price is steady, and the gold chart is active while anticipating FOMC outcomes. As the dollar weakens, risk assets adjust accordingly. Polymarket bettors currently predict a 76% chance of a US government shutdown by January 31, while progress on the US Crypto Clarity Act has stalled, maintaining institutional caution regarding liquidity. The Federal Open Market Committee meeting upheld current rates between 3.50%–3.75%, dismissing expectations for an early rate cut. The USD index dropped by nearly 3% to 96.09 this week, amid rumors of yen intervention. FOMC News Reshapes Crypto Movement Today Gold USD has reached an all-time high...

- How January’s Sharp Decline in Spot Volume Is Threatening the Crypto Market Structure While analysts have mainly focused on Bitcoin or individual altcoins, the structure of the total crypto market capitalization is approaching a critical threshold in January. Signs of weakening liquidity are sending warnings about how fragile this structure has become. Crypto Trading Volume Plunges as Investors Cash Out According to data from Newhedge, total trading volume on centralized exchanges reached $1.118 trillion in January. Binance accounted for more than $490 billion of that amount. What stands out is that unless a significant rebound occurs in the remaining days of January, this figure will mark the lowest level since July last year...

- Gov-Backed Asset or Solana Meme? The Truth Behind the USOR Crypto Frenzy A Solana token claiming ties to US oil reserves has soared in recent days, pulling traders into a political storyline that doesn’t match the facts. US Oil (USOR), a token launched in early January, gained strong traction this week as online chatter linked it to America’s strategic oil assets. There’s no evidence to support that claim, but the story still caught on. By Tuesday, January 27, USOR was trading near $0.019 with roughly $5–6 million in daily volume. Its fully diluted value sat around $18–19 million, based on figures from CoinGecko and other market trackers. Is the US Oil ($USOR) Rally Backed by Real Assets or Just Speculation? The spike followed...

- Key Takeaways BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes, known for his bold crypto market predictions, has made another one. He argues that ongoing instability in the Japanese yen could inadvertently fuel a major rally in Bitcoin (BTC). Hayes warned that the yen’s recent weakening and the collapse in Japanese Government Bond (JGB) prices are harbingers of broader financial fragility. Hayes Predicts Yen Turmoil Can Trigger Bitcoin’s Surge In his recent blog post titled “Woomph,” Arthur Hayes said the concurrent weakening of the yen and rise in JGB yields signal structural stress in Japan that could prompt intervention by the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve. He added that such intervention would effectively inject liquidity, easing...

- Morgan Stanley is accelerating its push into crypto, signaling a major shift in TradFi as digital assets move from speculative fringe to mainstream institutional play. The Wall Street giant, managing $9.3 trillion in assets, recently appointed Amy Oldenburg as Head of Digital Asset Strategy, a move that formalizes crypto as a core execution priority rather than a research exercise. Morgan Stanley Moves From Crypto Research to Full-Scale Execution The timing is notable. The Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust ETF (BTC) is now available on Morgan Stanley’s platform. This unlocks regulated Bitcoin exposure to more than $7.4 trillion in advisor-managed assets. Oldenburg, who previously worked for Morgan Stanley in emerging markets, is...

- South Korea’s top financial regulator is pressing ahead with plans to limit the ownership stakes of major shareholders in domestic crypto exchanges, signaling a tougher approach to governance as the industry’s role in the financial system expands. Key Takeaways: Financial Services Commission (FSC) Chairman Lee Eog-weon said Wednesday that imposing ownership caps is necessary to bring governance standards in line with the growing public importance of virtual asset exchanges, according to a report by the Korea Times. His remarks suggest the regulator intends to move forward despite pushback from industry players and concerns raised within the ruling Democratic Party of Korea. Korea Regulator Reviews 15–20% Ownership Cap for Crypto...

- A South Dakota lawmaker has reintroduced legislation that would allow the state to invest a portion of its public funds in Bitcoin, reviving a proposal that stalled during last year’s legislative session. Key Takeaways: Republican Representative Logan Manhart introduced House Bill 1155 on Tuesday, seeking to amend South Dakota’s public investment statutes to permit the State Investment Council to allocate up to 10% of eligible state funds to Bitcoin. The bill would allow exposure through direct holdings, qualified custodians, or regulated exchange-traded products. South Dakota Bitcoin Bill Sets Strict Custody and Security Rules “I am proud to say I have released my bill that would allow the State of South Dakota to invest in...

Coinbase’s First CTO Says Crypto Will Outlive Silicon Valley— Here’s Why Silicon Valley’s dominance is no longer guaranteed, and its collapse is now a conceivable outcome rather than a fringe thought experiment. That is the warning from Balaji Srinivasan, former Chief Technology Officer of Coinbase. The former Coinbase executive argues that mounting political risk and structural policy shifts could reduce the Valley “from one to zero” within the next decade, while crypto-native networks emerge as its natural successors. California’s Billionaire Tax Puts Silicon Valley on the Ballot Srinivasan outlined a scenario in which Silicon Valley’s core economic engine, venture capital, breaks down under the weight of: Central to his thesis...

- Bitcoin Rebound Stalls at 4% as Rate-Cut Mood Dominates ETF Buzz — What’s Next For Price? Bitcoin’s latest rebound has been unusually weak. After dipping to the $85,970 zone, the Bitcoin price bounced just 4% before stalling near $89,380. That BTC price move came despite fresh ETF headlines and signs of technical stabilization. The problem is timing. Rate-cut optimism is near zero heading into the Federal Reserve decision, and macro caution is overpowering short-term bullish signals. With Bitcoin trading flat across most timeframes, the market is waiting for a clear trigger. Divergence Failed to Spark Momentum as Rate-Cut Mood Overpowered ETF Buzz On the daily chart, Bitcoin flashed a hidden bullish divergence between December 18...

- Crypto payments network Mesh hits unicorn status after $75m Series C round Crypto payments network Mesh has reached a $1bn valuation after closing a $75m Series C funding round, securing unicorn status. The latest round was led by Dragonfly Capital, with participation from Paradigm, Moderne Ventures, Coinbase Ventures, SBI Investment, and Liberty City Ventures. The raise also takes the company’s total funding to more than $200m. Founded in 2020, Mesh operates a crypto payments network that connects exchanges, wallets, and financial services platforms to support digital asset payments and conversions across integrated partners. The company will use the Series C proceeds to expand in Latin America, Asia, and Europe, and to support...

- The US Dollar Index (DXY) fell below 96 for the first time since early 2022, losing a 15-year support line that anchored dollar strength since 2011. This key breakdown comes amid President Donald Trump's latest remarks and a combination of macroeconomic factors. Notably, the DXY's latest drop has fueled optimism for a Bitcoin (BTC) rally. US Dollar Index (DXY) Falls To 4 Year Low Recent macroeconomic developments have put sustained pressure on the US Dollar Index. Speculation over possible Japanese yen intervention has boosted the JPY, while pulling the greenback lower. At the same time, concerns over broader market stability are resurfacing. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said at an event hosted by the Brussels-based...

- ​​Asia Market Open: Bitcoin Grinds Higher to $89K, Asia Opens Uneven as Gold Marks New Record Bitcoin edged higher toward $89,000 in early Asia trade as investors observed a choppy regional open, then turned their attention to a packed run of US earnings and fresh talk of more funding for OpenAI. Crypto market depth stayed thin. Spot bitcoin ETFs barely drew fresh money after heavy redemptions last week, and derivatives positioning eased, a combination that has kept traders leaning toward short-term ranges rather than big directional bets. Equities sent a mixed signal across mainland China. The Shanghai benchmark rose 0.21%, and the DJ Shanghai index gained 0.22%. The SZSE Component slipped 0.10% and China A50 fell 0.20%. Market...

- 39% of Merchants Already Accept Crypto Signs that cryptocurrency is transitioning from a speculative asset to a legitimate payment method are emerging across the United States. The convergence of merchant adoption, major banks entering the Bitcoin business, and massive investment flowing into payment infrastructure is fueling predictions that 2026 could mark the tipping point for crypto payments. According to a survey released Jan. 27 by PayPal and the National Cryptocurrency Association (NCA), 39% of US merchants already accept cryptocurrency payments. Meanwhile, 84% expect crypto payments to become commonplace within the next five years. Consumer demand is driving adoption. Eighty-eight percent of merchants report receiving...

- Nomura’s Crypto Arm Laser Digital Eyes US Bank Charter: Report Nomura-backed crypto firm Laser Digital has applied for a US banking license, aiming to bring more of its digital asset business inside the regulated financial system. The Financial Times reported that the application was filed Tuesday with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, seeking a national bank trust charter that would give Laser Digital a federal pathway rather than forcing it to chase custody permissions state by state. Laser Digital, which Nomura spun out in 2022, plans to offer spot trading in digital assets under the structure, and it does not plan to take direct deposits, the report said. The filing lands as more fintech and crypto firms test a...

- US Shutdown Odds at 75% — How Hard Will Bitcoin Be Hit? The US federal government is heading toward a partial shutdown, putting bitcoin markets on alert. However, unlike last year's 43-day full shutdown, the smaller scale of this potential closure suggests price impact may be contained. With six of twelve spending bills already passed and historical data showing 60% of shutdown crises end in last-minute deals, markets appear to be pricing in a limited disruption scenario. Shutdown Odds at 75% with $13.3 Million Wagered According to prediction market platform Polymarket, the probability of a shutdown on January 31 is 75% in the Asian morning hours. Total betting volume has exceeded $13.3 million. The impasse stems from Democrats'...

- Michael Saylor reveals 'greatest risk' to Bitcoin When I first heard the word Bitcoin (BTC) around the mid-2010s, Michael Saylor wasn’t anywhere in the picture. But now, one can't talk about Bitcoin without mentioning Saylor. In 1989, Saylor co-founded a software company called MicroStrategy (Nasdaq: MSTR). But when he came across Bitcoin during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, he decided to turn his software enterprise into a digital asset treasury (DAT) dedicated to BTC. A DAT acquires cryptocurrency to add to its corporate balance sheet. The way other public companies hold cash on their balance sheets, a DAT company holds crypto assets on its balance sheet. The company continued accumulating Bitcoin over the years, rebranded...

- Bitcoin is flashing signs of a more stable and resilient phase, according to a new quarterly report from Coinbase Institutional and on-chain analytics firm Glassnode, released Tuesday. The report, Charting Crypto: 1Q 2026, said excess leverage was largely flushed from the market during last year’s fourth-quarter selloff, leaving Bitcoin less vulnerable to cascading liquidations and better positioned to absorb macroeconomic shocks. Rather than signaling the start of a renewed speculative rally, the analysis suggests Bitcoin is behaving more like a macro-sensitive asset, shaped by global liquidity conditions, institutional positioning, and deliberate portfolio rebalancing.  The authors frame the current environment as one in which...

- Another NFT platform is closing permanently This has been a painful week for anyone paying attention to crypto. Markets are crashing, Bitcoin is struggling to touch $90,000. Almost every day of this week has brought news of another platform winding down, another product going dark. On Jan. 19, on-chain analytics firm Elliptic reported that Tudou Guarantee, a Telegram-based illicit crypto marketplace, had shut down operations. Tudou had emerged as a dominant hub in Southeast Asia’s scam economy after the earlier closure of Huione Guarantee. Days later, Nifty Gateway, once one of the most recognizable names of the NFT boom, confirmed it would shut down its marketplace. The announcement was met with frustration and criticism from...