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South Korea is moving closer to passing a new crypto bill that would require stablecoin issuers to hold a minimum of 5 billion won ($3.5 million) in capital, as lawmakers seek to formalize oversight of the virtual asset market.

According to local reports, the Democratic Party’s Digital Asset Task Force, led by Chairman Lee Jeong-moon, convened its second plenary session on January 28 at the National Assembly Members’ Hall to discuss legislative directions based on the bill’s provisions.

Representative Ahn Do-geol, serving as task force secretary, confirmed during a press briefing: “We agreed to set the legal capital requirement for stablecoin issuers at least 5 billion won.”

According to Daily Economic News, South Korea's Democratic Party has finalized the virtual asset market bill as the "Digital Asset Basic Law," planning to submit it for deliberation before the Lunar New Year holiday. Stablecoin issuers must have minimum statutory capital of at…

— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) January 28, 2026

Stablecoin Capital Threshold Mirrors Electronic Money Standards

The proposal, part of the forthcoming Digital Asset Basic Act, places stablecoins closer to traditional electronic money under Korean law at a time of heightened concern over market stability and capital flows.

Under the draft, any company seeking to issue stablecoins in South Korea must meet the threshold, aligning the rule with existing requirements for electronic money firms.

Lawmakers argue that because stablecoins function like digital cash, issuers should be subject to comparable financial safeguards.

The measure is intended to prevent undercapitalized firms from issuing tokens without sufficient backing, reducing the risk of abrupt collapses.

Officials say stronger balance sheets should help issuers absorb losses and manage operational risks, limiting potential harm to users during periods of stress.

Korea’s in a full-on stablecoin bubble right now:

There are zero clear regulatory guidelines on stablecoins so far.

Every other day, Korean financial news headlines are like: “XYZ bank/company just filed a trademark for a stablecoin.”

Whenever a listed company files a… pic.twitter.com/GG7wphTdzg

— 100y.eth (@100y_eth) July 7, 2025

Beyond capital rules, the bill introduces a new governance structure to manage market risks more effectively.

A proposed inter-ministerial body, the Virtual Asset Committee, would be led by the chair of the Financial Services Commission.

Other members would include the Bank of Korea’s deputy governor and a vice minister from the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

The committee is designed to coordinate rapid responses to hacks, system failures, and major market disruptions.

The task force plans final coordination with the party’s policy committee and relevant government bodies before introducing the bill.

Lawmakers are targeting submission ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, which falls on February 17, 2026.

South Korea Central Bank Voices Concerns Over Stablecoin Risks

Despite progress on the bill, key policy disagreements remain unresolved.

Sensitive issues such as the scope of the Bank of Korea’s authority and potential limits on major shareholder holdings are still under discussion.

Bank of Korea Governor Lee Chang-yong has repeatedly raised concerns about stablecoins, particularly those linked to foreign currencies.

Speaking at the Asian Financial Forum in Hong Kong, Lee warned that stablecoins could enable rapid cross-border capital movement, weakening capital controls.

South Korea considers domestic crypto issuance regime as central bank governor warns won stablecoins could be used to circumvent capital flow controls.#SouthKorea #Crypto #Stablecoinhttps://t.co/191aiNvzvc

— Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) January 27, 2026

He said the risks would increase if U.S.-dollar-pegged stablecoins were connected to U.S.-dollar-pegged tokens, allowing funds to exit the country quickly during market stress.

Those warnings come as regulators remain split on whether stablecoin issuance should be restricted to bank-led consortia.

At the same time, currency pressures have added to policymakers’ caution, with the won sliding to 1,431.15 per dollar amid tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump.

Source: Google Finance

Corporate Crypto Access Expands After 9-Year Ban

The current regulatory improvement aligns with South Korea’s recent rollback of a 9-year ban on corporate crypto investment.

New guidelines now allow listed companies and professional investors to trade digital assets under defined limits.

Under the Virtual Currency Trading Guidelines for Listed Corporations, firms would be permitted to invest up to 5% of their equity capital in top-20 cryptocurrencies by market value.

The change represents the final phase of a three-step plan introduced by the Financial Services Commission in February 2025.

Once implemented, around 3,500 corporate entities are expected to gain access to crypto markets, though discussions continue over whether dollar-pegged stablecoins such as USDT will be included.

The post South Korea’s New Crypto Bill Sets $3.5M Minimum for Stablecoin Issuers – Can It Pass? appeared first on Cryptonews.

Bitcoin is trading around $89,000 this morning as crypto markets brace for the Federal Reserve’s policy announcement at 2:00 PM ET.

Source: TradingView

The FOMC meeting is expected to keep rates steady in the 3.5%-3.75% range with 97% market consensus, but Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s 2:30 PM press conference could trigger sharp volatility across digital assets.

XRP trades near $1.89 while Solana sits around $127, both consolidating after weekend weakness that erased over $100 billion from crypto markets in hours.

Beyond current price action, historical patterns suggest traders should approach today’s decision with caution. Bitcoin has declined in seven of the last eight FOMC meetings, averaging 9% drops following Fed announcements in 2025.

Critical support levels include the 100-week moving average at $87,145 and the ETF buyer cost basis near $84,099, which has held during recent consolidation.

Adding to these technical concerns, spot Bitcoin ETFs shed $1.33 billion over the past week while Ethereum ETFs lost $611 million, reflecting weak institutional appetite. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index has also plunged to “extreme fear” territory earlier this week as markets position defensively.

Source: Alternative[dot]me

Compounding the monetary policy uncertainty, macro crosscurrents are creating additional volatility triggers. The dollar hit a four-year low after Trump’s remarks dismissing currency weakness, briefly lifting Bitcoin above $89,000 before fading.

Gold surged past $5,200 as safe-haven flows intensified, with 76% Polymarket odds of a government shutdown by month-end adding political risk.

JUST IN: Gold reaches another new ATH of $5,200 pic.twitter.com/k9xHhShqba

— Watcher.Guru (@WatcherGuru) January 28, 2026

Trump’s expected Fed chair successor announcement this week and persistent tariff threats create additional wildcards that could overshadow Powell’s prepared remarks.

Given all the dynamics, analysts see Bitcoin trapped between the low $80,000s and mid-$90,000s until regulatory clarity improves, with Powell’s tone on inflation and rate path mattering more than today’s decision itself.

Whether the Fed chair delivers dovish reassurance or maintains hawkish vigilance could determine if crypto reclaims momentum or tests deeper support through February.

Live Updates: Bitcoin’s Reaction to Powell’s Press Conference

The post [LIVE] Bitcoin Price Alert: Will Powell Signal Cuts at 2:30 PM? Fed Holds Rates at 3.5-3.75% as Expected appeared first on Cryptonews.

The crypto market is up today. After sitting on the boundary between appreciation and drop yesterday, unchanged over the previous day, the cryptocurrency market capitalisation saw the green prevail, rising 2.2% over the past 24 hours. It now stands at $3.12 trillion. Also, 90 of the top 100 coins posted price increases. The total crypto trading volume stands at $128 billion.

TLDR:

Crypto market cap is up 2.2% on Wednesday morning (UTC);

90 of the top 100 coins and 9 of the top 10 coins have gone up;

BTC increased by 1.7% to $89,419 and ETH rose 3.8% to $3,020;

Bitcoin jumped in early Asia trade as well;

ETH is trading on a key breakeven zone for many holders;

Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan says crypto now has a critical three-year window to prove real-world utility;

‘The longer Bitcoin remains under $100,000, the more momentum will trend to the downside’;

A South Dakota lawmaker reintroduced legislation that would allow the state to invest 10% of its public funds in BTC.

US spot BTC and ETH ETFs posted outflows of $147.37 million and $63.53 million, respectively;

Crypto market sentiment saw an increase but stayed in the fear zone.

Crypto Winners & Losers

On Wednesday morning (UTC), 9 of the top 10 coins per market capitalisation have seen their prices appreciate.

Bitcoin (BTC) increased by 1.7%, currently trading at $89,419. This is the smallest green percentage in the category.

Bitcoin (BTC)

24h7d30d1yAll time

Ethereum (ETH) appreciated just 3.8%, changing hands at $3,020. This is the category’s second-highest jump.

Among the best performers is Binance Coin (BNB), which increased by 3.4%, now trading at $905.

At the same time, the only fall among the top 10 is 0.7% by Tron (TRX), now trading at $0.2921.

Furthermore, of the top 100 coins per market cap, 90 have posted price increases today.

Hyperliquid (HYPE) is the day’s highest gainer, posting the category’s only double-digit rise of 25.3% to $34.62.

Canton (CC) follows with a 9.4% increase to $0.1655.

On the red side, at the top, we find River (RIVER). It’s down 9.3% to the price of $54.55.

Provenance Blockchain (HASH) follows, falling 7.6% to $0.02531.

The rest are down 3% and less per coin.

Meanwhile, Bitcoin jumped in early Asia trade as well, initially seeing a choppy open. Investors have since focused on US earnings and discussions on more funding for OpenAI.

Bitcoin edged toward $89,000 in Asia, but thin ETF inflows and lighter derivatives positioning kept traders cautious ahead of US earnings.#bitcoin #AsiaMarketOpenhttps://t.co/pNFPJkn2DS

— Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) January 28, 2026

ETH Trading In a Key Zone

Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan recently said that crypto markets now have a critical three-year window to prove their real-world utility. Otherwise, the ongoing legislative uncertainty in the US could halt industry momentum.

“If, at the end of three years, we’re all using stablecoins and trading tokenized stocks, we’ll get positive crypto legislation regardless of who is in charge,” Hougan wrote. “But if crypto is instead still operating on the edges, a change in Washington could be a huge setback.”

Glassnode analyst Chris Beamish wrote on Twitter that ETH is trading in a breakeven zone for many holders.

Notably, he argues that this is a key level on which the next move depends.

“Holding here suggests absorption and base building,” Beamish writes. A breakdown, however, “would move price into thinner support where underwater supply may derisk.”

$ETH is trading on a dense cost basis cluster, a key breakeven zone for many holders. Holding here suggests absorption and base building, but a breakdown would move price into thinner support where underwater supply may derisk.
Next move hinges on this level.… pic.twitter.com/iI4jaX8zf6

— Chris Beamish (@ChrisBeamish_) January 27, 2026

Nic Puckrin, investment analyst and co-founder of Coin Bureau, argues that BTC needs the move above the $100,000 mark.

“The longer Bitcoin remains under $100,000, the more momentum will trend to the downside,” he writes in a comment.

A new all-time high in 2026 isn’t out of the question yet, Puckrin says, but “the next 30 days will be crucial in determining whether a bear market is already here.”

Levels & Events to Watch Next

At the time of writing on Wednesday morning, BTC was changing hands at $89,419. It started the day at the 87,990 level, soon reaching the intraday low of $87,315. However, it then surged to the day’s peak of $89,419.

It has turned red in the 1-week timeframe as well, even if barely. It’s up 0.2%, trading between $86,319 and $90,475.

BTC hasn’t been able to break the $90,000 level by the time of writing, but breaking it would open doors for higher zones, starting with $91,500-93,000. Staying above $91,200 could help it move up to $93,300 and then $95,500. Otherwise, it will return towards $86,000.

At the same time, Ethereum was trading at $3,020. Similarly to BTC, ETH attempted a jump higher earlier in the day, from the low of $2,899 to the $2,989 level. It, however, wasn’t able to hold it this time. It plunged before initiating a more sustainable push upwards, surpassing $3,000 and hitting the intraday high of $3,028.

Over the past week, ETH appreciated 2%, moving in the $2,801–$3,044 range.

ETH now has a chance to reclaim even higher levels, starting with $3,100, then $3,180 and $3,220. A bearish pullback would take it back to $2,900 and $2,840.

Ethereum (ETH)

24h7d30d1yAll time

Moreover, the crypto market sentiment has seen an increase after a couple of days of sitting on the fence.

The crypto fear and greed index currently stands at 34, compared to 29 seen over the past two days.

Notably, despite this jump, the metric remains within the fear zone. A higher surge in optimism is needed to push it back into the neutral territory.

ETFs Inflows Were Short-Lived

After a minor uptick yesterday, which broke a week-long red streak, the US BTC spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) posted outflows again on Tuesday. These funds let go of $147.37 million in total on 27 January.

Therefore, the total net inflow decreases to $56.35 billion.

Of the twelve ETFs, two saw outflows. BlackRock said goodbye to $102.81 million, while Fidelity posted outflows of $2.79 million.

The US ETH ETFs also recorded outflows during the Tuesday session. These totalled to $63.53 million. The total net inflow now stands at $12.36 billion.

Of the nine ETH ETFs, one saw inflows, and two posted outflows. Grayscale ETH Mini Trust added $9.99 million.

However, BlackRock recorded $58.97 million in negative flows, followed by Grayscale’s $14.55 million.

Meanwhile, in the US, a South Dakota lawmaker has reintroduced legislation that would allow the state to invest a portion of its public funds in Bitcoin.

It would amend South Dakota’s public investment statutes and permit the State Investment Council to allocate up to 10% of eligible state funds to BTC. Moreover, the bill would allow exposure through direct holdings, qualified custodians, or regulated exchange-traded products.

I am proud to say I have released my bill that would allow the State of South Dakota to invest in Bitcoin.

Strong money. Strong state.

— Logan Manhart (@ManhartLogan) January 27, 2026

Quick FAQ

Did crypto move with stocks today?

The crypto market has posted a higher increase over the past 24 hours than seen a day prior. Meanwhile, the US stock market closed the previous session with a mixed picture. By the closing time on Tuesday, 27 January, the S&P 500 was up 0.41%, the Nasdaq-100 increased by 0.88%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 0.83%. Also, gold futures hit a new record, while their silver counterparts pulled back after a new high seen on Monday.

Is this rally sustainable?

We could see prices rise further over the following days. However, participants should not be surprised by sudden pullbacks either, as these are normal for the market. Incoming macro signals could affect the price movement in either direction.

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(LIVE) Crypto News Today: Latest Updates for January 28, 2026

The crypto market is up today. After sitting on the boundary between appreciation and drop yesterday, unchanged over the previous day, the cryptocurrency market capitalisation saw the green prevail, rising 2.2% over the past 24 hours. It now stands at $3.12 trillion. Also, 90 of the top 100 coins posted price increases. The total crypto trading volume stands at $128 billion. Crypto Winners & Losers On Wednesday morning (UTC), 9 of the top 10 coins per market capitalisation have seen...

The post Why Is Crypto Up Today? – January 28, 2026 appeared first on Cryptonews.

Digital asset custodian Cactus Custody announced it is rolling out a new institutional-grade self-custody platform built on Multi-Party Computation (MPC) as demand grows for secure digital asset control without reliance on centralized custodians.

The new platform is designed to give clients direct ownership of their assets while maintaining compliance-ready integrations with key anti-money laundering and Travel Rule technology providers including Chainalysis and Notabene.

Institutional Self-Custody Powered by MPC

MPC tech has emerged as one of the most widely adopted security frameworks for digital asset management allowing private keys to be split into multiple encrypted shares rather than stored in a single location.

By using MPC, Cactus said it aims to reduce the risk of single-point key compromise while allowing institutional clients to retain full control over their funds. The solution is positioned for organizations seeking autonomy and resilience in their custody infrastructure.

Cactus Custody Integrates Circle’s USDC Infrastructure

In December, Cactus Custody announced a collaboration with an affiliate of Circle Internet Group to improve access to USDC for institutional clients.

The firm has integrated Circle’s USDC infrastructure to improve workflow interoperability allowing institutional clients to manage their digital asset operations.

Cactus Custody is integrating Circle’s USDC infrastructure to improve institutional operational efficiency.

The integration enhances workflow interoperability for digital asset operations, helping institutions streamline processes with institutional-grade security and… pic.twitter.com/K0QkS7XoGo

— Cactus Custody (@CactusCustody) December 2, 2025

Addressing Compliance Through Integrated Tooling

Alongside security, Cactus Custody explains compliance remains a central concern for institutions operating in the digital asset space. Cactus’ self-custody platform integrates with AML and Know-Your-Transaction (KYT) tools such as Chainalysis allowing clients to monitor on-chain activity and meet regulatory obligations.

Travel Rule compliance is also supported through integrations with solutions like Notabene allowing institutions to exchange required transaction information as global regulatory frameworks tighten.

Targeting Clients Who Want Full Control

Daniel Lee the CEO of Cactus Custody told CryptoNews that the product is aimed at a broad range of institutions that prefer self-custody over third-party custodial models.

“The target client based would anyone that requires self custody solution. There are those that prefer self custody over using a centralised custodian,” Lee said.

He added that compliance tooling is flexible depending on client preference. “Chainalysis is an option for the client to use for their KYT [Know-Your-Transaction] obligations. However, if the client chooses another onchain analysis vendor we can also consider integrating it to our system,” Lee said.

Daniel Lee — a leading voice in institutional digital assets and former Head of Web3 at Banking Circle — becomes CEO of @CactusCustody from Jan 2026.#Web3 #Custodyhttps://t.co/GYfKNfVF0Q

— Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) December 8, 2025

The post Cactus Custody Rolls Out MPC Self-Custody Platform With Chainalysis appeared first on Cryptonews.

A Solana-based meme coin launched by a wallet linked by blockchain investigators to an alleged theft of U.S. government-controlled crypto assets has collapsed almost entirely within hours of trading.

The token, named John Daghita and trading under the ticker LICK, was created on the Pump.fun launchpad and briefly surged to a market capitalization of roughly $915,000 before falling more than 97% overnight.

Onchain data shows the token later dropped below $25,000 in market value, with current figures placing it near $27,700 after a steep 24-hour decline.

Source: pump.fun

Trading activity indicates that the deployer wallet accumulated tokens early while the market capitalization was still below $21,000, making four purchases before the sharp rally and subsequent collapse.

Bubblemaps Finds Concentrated Supply in LICK Token Debut

Further scrutiny came from blockchain analytics firm Bubblemaps, which reported that the deployer of LICK held approximately 40% of the total token supply at launch.

John Daghita (@lick), who stole $40M from the US government, just launched $LICK on pumpfun and is live streaming on Telegram

He holds 40% of the supply

Unhinged https://t.co/jUku6wIfXg pic.twitter.com/apZQojKnuz

— Bubblemaps (@bubblemaps) January 27, 2026

Such concentration is widely viewed by analysts as a warning sign, as it allows insiders to exert outsized control over price action and liquidity.

Bubblemaps claimed that the same individual tied to the alleged theft controlled the deployer wallet and a significant share of the supply during the token’s launch phase.

The launch attracted attention after blockchain investigator ZachXBT said the wallet associated with the token deployer was connected to tens of millions of dollars in crypto allegedly tied to U.S. government-seized assets.

@ZachXBT alleges a crypto theft from US government wallets is linked to the son of a federal crypto custody contractor’s CEO.#Hack #Cryptohttps://t.co/5G1BLSmHCn

— Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) January 26, 2026

In an X post on Jan. 23, ZachXBT claimed the individual behind the online alias “John Daghita,” also known as “Lick,” had displayed control over wallets holding approximately $23 million during a recorded dispute with another actor in a Telegram group.

Public records show that Command Services & Support, a Virginia-based firm whose president is Dean Daghita, received a U.S. Marshals Service contract in October 2024 to assist with the custody and disposal of certain digital assets seized by the government.

ZachXBT alleged that John Daghita, the president’s son, gained unauthorized access to wallets connected to those holdings.

The allegations have not been tested in court, and no criminal charges have been announced.

Meme Coin Chaos Deepens Across Solana’s Pump.fun Ecosystem

The incident has also drawn attention from policymakers, as Patrick Witt, director of the White House Crypto Council, said in a post on X that he was reviewing the claims following ZachXBT’s disclosures.

On it. More to follow. https://t.co/lZJHM12Nx5

— Patrick Witt (@patrickjwitt) January 26, 2026

According to BitcoinTreasuries.NET, U.S. authorities may control more than 328,000 Bitcoin through various seizures, including assets from the Bitfinex case, potentially worth around $30 billion at current prices.

Beyond the specific allegations, the LICK collapse fits into a broader pattern within Solana’s meme coin ecosystem.

Data from early 2025 suggests that more than 98% of tokens launched on Pump.fun exhibit characteristics associated with rug pulls or rapid pump-and-dump schemes.

Analysts estimate that only a tiny fraction of the millions of tokens created on the platform ever reach even modest liquidity levels, while the average lifespan of many tokens has dropped to less than 25 minutes before abandonment or sharp declines.

Recent cases have reinforced these concerns, as in December, Solana-based AI token AVA fell more than 96% after onchain analysis showed roughly 40% of its supply had been accumulated by wallets linked to the deployer at launch.

In January, the WhiteWhale memecoin briefly lost around 60% of its market value within minutes after a large holder sold a significant portion of the supply, an event widely described by traders as a rug pull despite later partial recovery.

The post Wallet Tied to US Crypto Theft Launches Solana Meme Coin — Plunges 97% Overnight appeared first on Cryptonews.

Ripple has launched Ripple Treasury, a new corporate treasury platform that combines GTreasury’s enterprise software with Ripple’s blockchain infrastructure, marking a deeper push into institutional finance.

Key Takeaways:

Ripple has launched Ripple Treasury, integrating GTreasury’s software with its blockchain to unify cash and digital asset management.

The platform is the first major product to emerge from Ripple’s $1 billion acquisition of GTreasury.

Ripple Treasury aims to speed up cross-border payments and improve liquidity management.

In a blog post published Tuesday, Ripple said the platform brings traditional cash management and digital asset operations into a single system.

The company said the goal is to simplify treasury functions such as cross-border payments, liquidity management and asset reconciliation, areas that have remained fragmented for many large enterprises.

Ripple Integrates GTreasury Following $1B Acquisition

The launch represents the first major product integration since Ripple acquired Chicago-based GTreasury for $1 billion in October.

At the time of the deal, GTreasury Chief Executive Renaat Ver Eecke described the acquisition as a turning point for corporate treasury management.

Ripple said the new platform is built to address persistent inefficiencies faced by finance teams, including multi-day settlement times, limited transparency around international payments and the reliance on spreadsheets to reconcile traditional cash with digital assets.

According to the company, Ripple Treasury enables cross-border settlements in three to five seconds using Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin, compared with traditional payment rails that can take several business days to complete.

Today, we're proud to introduce Ripple Treasury, Powered by GTreasury: the world's first comprehensive treasury platform combining 40 years of proven enterprise expertise with cutting-edge digital asset infrastructure.

Many finance teams are stuck managing growing complexity… pic.twitter.com/4scNUggARS

— GTreasury (@GTreasury) January 27, 2026

The platform also provides a unified dashboard for managing both fiat and digital assets, replacing manual workflows with direct API connections that treat digital asset platforms as functional equivalents of banks.

Ripple previously said the GTreasury integration would open access to short-term liquidity markets as part of its broader institutional offering.

That capability is expected to be supported through prime broker Hidden Road, which Ripple acquired last year for $1.25 billion, giving corporate clients additional tools to manage liquidity without overhauling existing controls.

Ripple and GTreasury said they plan to focus on helping customers deploy idle cash more efficiently while preserving established reporting standards and treasury governance frameworks.

Ripple Secures UK Regulatory Approval Amid Global Expansion

The rollout comes amid Ripple’s broader expansion across regulated markets. Earlier this month, the company received approval from the UK’s financial regulator for an Electronic Money Institution license and crypto asset registration.

Ripple has also secured preliminary approval for a similar license in Luxembourg, positioning the firm to expand its payments services across Europe.

In the United States, Ripple applied for a national banking license with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency in July 2025, joining a growing list of crypto firms seeking deeper integration with the traditional financial system.

In recent months, the company has also secured approvals in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and onboarded partners including Zand Bank and Mamo.

As reported, Ripple is also weighing whether to bring staking to the XRP Ledger (XRPL), a move that would push the decade-old blockchain deeper into the rapidly expanding world of decentralized finance.

Despite its expanding footprint, Ripple has said it has no plans to pursue an initial public offering, pointing instead to a strong balance sheet and continued focus on acquisitions and product development.

The post Ripple Rolls Out Treasury Platform Integrating Traditional and Digital Assets appeared first on Cryptonews.

Crypto markets face a critical three-year window to demonstrate real-world utility as legislative uncertainty threatens to derail industry momentum, according to Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan.

The stark timeline emerged as the CLARITY Act’s passage odds tumbled from 80% to roughly 50% following recent setbacks, including public criticism from Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, who called provisions in the current draft “catastrophic.”

Hougan warned that failure to pass comprehensive regulation would force digital assets into what he described as a “show me” period.

Crypto would need to become indispensable to everyday Americans and traditional finance by 2029 or risk punitive legislation under future administrations.

Three Years to Prove Crypto’s Real-World Value

The urgency stems from crypto’s fragile regulatory foundation, which Hougan said could crumble without legislative protection.

He pointed to historical precedents in which disruptive technologies bent regulations through mass adoption, citing Uber and Airbnb as examples that became so popular that lawmakers could not block them.

“If, at the end of three years, we’re all using stablecoins and trading tokenized stocks, we’ll get positive crypto legislation regardless of who is in charge,” Hougan wrote in Monday’s client note.

“But if crypto is instead still operating on the edges, a change in Washington could be a huge setback.“

The warning carries weight as Congressional momentum has stalled across multiple committees.

Senate Banking postponed its CLARITY Act markup indefinitely after Armstrong withdrew Coinbase’s support, pivoting instead to housing legislation following President Trump’s affordability push.

Meanwhile, Senate Agriculture pressed forward with alternative legislation despite failing to secure Democratic backing, scheduling a markup for Thursday that now faces disruption from Washington’s looming government shutdown deadline.

Senate Agriculture Committee advances crypto bill for January 27 markup without Democratic support as Banking delays CLARITY Act over stablecoin disputes.#ClarityAct #Stablecoinhttps://t.co/Wjz1vpYh5d

— Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) January 22, 2026

Senator Roger Marshall agreed not to offer a controversial amendment to the credit card swipe fee during Thursday’s Senate Agriculture Committee markup, removing a threat that had jeopardized Republican support for the underlying crypto bill.

The Kansas Republican had filed an amendment seeking to force payment networks to compete on swipe fees, pitting the finance industry against major retailers.

White House officials became directly involved in preventing the amendment’s consideration, with sources confirming it would have “jeopardized” passage of legislation the administration is pressing to advance.

Gold’s Surge Signals Deeper Shift in Institutional Trust

Hougan linked crypto’s regulatory challenges to gold’s stunning rally past $5,000 per ounce, arguing both reflect eroding confidence in centralized institutions.

Gold gained 65% in 2025 and another 16% in 2026, with roughly half its dollar value created in just 20 months despite thousands of years as a store of value.

Source: Bitwise

“It shows that people no longer want to keep all of their wealth in a format that relies on the good graces of others,” Hougan wrote, noting central banks doubled annual gold purchases after the US froze Russia’s treasury assets in 2022.

German economists recently urged repatriation of gold held at the New York Federal Reserve, while a Norwegian government panel warned sovereign wealth funds face “increased taxation, regulatory intervention and even confiscation” in the current geopolitical climate.

Crypto’s core features could become increasingly valuable as institutional trust declines.

Assets like Bitcoin enable ownership without centralized intermediaries, while networks like Ethereum and Solana operate under rules no single authority can alter.

If CLARITY passes, Hougan expects markets to rally sharply as investors price in guaranteed growth for stablecoins and tokenization.

Source: Bitwise

Failure would trigger a “wait and see” market where optimism wrestles with prolonged regulatory uncertainty.

Just like many others, Investment bank TD Cowen has warned legislation could slip to 2027 as lawmakers position for midterm elections, with full implementation potentially delayed until 2029.

Despite legislative turbulence, market fundamentals appear solid. Bitwise’s Q4 2025 report identified signs of a bear-market bottom, citing record Ethereum transaction volumes, surging stablecoin market capitalization above $300 billion, and Uniswap processing more volume than Coinbase.

A Coinbase-Glassnode survey also found 70% of institutions view Bitcoin as undervalued despite fourth-quarter volatility that erased nearly a third of its value from peaks above $125,000.

The post Bitwise Says Crypto Has Until 2029 to Prove Its Worth – Can It Deliver? appeared first on Cryptonews.

Bitcoin is steady around $89,300, but traders are shifting their attention away from short-term price moves. The main issue now is that Bitcoin is falling behind silver, which has jumped to record highs above $117 per ounce. This growing gap is changing how investors view momentum.

Silver is drawing in capital as a hard-asset hedge, while Bitcoin is having trouble reaching its previous highs. Many traders now call this split ‘ugly’ instead of just a short-term blip. This isn’t about Bitcoin crashing. It’s about investors moving away from BTC as precious metals gain momentum.

Silver’s Surge Exposes a Shift in Market Leadership

Silver’s rise has been quick and strong. Prices nearly reached $118, up about 60% so far this year, thanks to safe-haven buying, limited supply for industry, and speculation. Meanwhile, Bitcoin is still stuck below $95,500, a level it has failed to break several times.

Silver Price Chart – Source: Tradingview

Because of this, the BTC/Silver ratio has dropped sharply. Many traders watch this ratio to see where money is flowing. When it falls for a long time, it usually means investors prefer physical or inflation-protected assets over riskier trades. In the past, Bitcoin often moved with metals, but now that link has broken.

Silver is gaining momentum. Bitcoin is staying in a tight range.

Rekt Capital Flags a Rare EMA Warning for Bitcoin

Adding to concerns, analyst Rekt Capital has pointed out a rare crossover between Bitcoin’s 21-week and 50-week exponential moving averages. This signal just appeared at the latest weekly close and last happened in April 2022, right before Bitcoin’s biggest bear market of that cycle.

#BTC

The Bitcoin Bull Market EMAs have officially crossed over$BTC #Crypto #Bitcoin https://t.co/cKDgLRESON pic.twitter.com/v1Y8MU3IP2

— Rekt Capital (@rektcapital) January 26, 2026

EMA crossovers don’t predict timing by themselves, but traders watch them because they show the health of long-term trends. A bearish crossover means Bitcoin might need more time and stability before it can lead again, especially as other hard assets keep outperforming.

Bitcoin Price Prediction: Breaking the Downtrend Could Lead to $95K–$98K

Looking at the 4-hour chart, Bitcoin price prediction is bullish as BTC is steady above $86,000 and making higher lows, but it’s still stuck below a falling trendline from the $95,500 high. This forms a descending wedge, which usually signals the trend is running out of steam instead of starting a new sell-off.

Candlestick patterns back this up. Long lower wicks between $88,500 and $89,000 show buyers are active on dips, and smaller candle bodies mean selling is slowing down. Bitcoin is also moving back above short-term EMAs, with the 50-EMA and 100-EMA coming together near $91,000 to $91,200, which is now a key area to watch.

Bitcoin Price Chart – Source: Tradingview

Momentum is picking up, but it’s still under control. The RSI is moving up toward the mid-50s, showing a recovery that isn’t overdone.

If Bitcoin can break and stay above $91,200, it could move up to $93,300, then $95,500, and possibly even $98,000. But if it can’t hold $88,500, that move will be delayed and Bitcoin will likely stay in a range above $86,000.

Trade view: If Bitcoin breaks above $91,200, it could head toward $95,500 to $98,000. If it falls below $86,000, the focus returns to consolidation, not a crash.

Bitcoin Hyper: The Next Evolution of BTC on Solana?

Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) is bringing a new phase to the BTC ecosystem. While BTC remains the gold standard for security, Bitcoin Hyper adds what it always lacked: Solana-level speed. The result: lightning-fast, low-cost smart contracts, decentralized apps, and even meme coin creation, all secured by Bitcoin.

Audited by Consult, the project emphasizes trust and scalability as adoption builds. And momentum is already strong. The presale has surpassed $31 million, with tokens priced at just $0.013645 before the next increase.

As Bitcoin activity climbs and demand for efficient BTC-based apps rises, Bitcoin Hyper stands out as the bridge uniting two of crypto’s biggest ecosystems. If Bitcoin built the foundation, Bitcoin Hyper could make it fast, flexible, and fun again.

Click Here to Participate in the Presale

The post Bitcoin Price Prediction: BTC vs Silver Breakdown Turns Ugly – Why Traders Are Calling This ‘Insane’ appeared first on Cryptonews.

Der Ethereum-Mitbegründer Vitalik Buterin enthüllte, dass er im letzten Jahr 70.000 $ auf der Prognosemarkt-Plattform Polymarket verdient hat, durch das, was er „Anti-Irrsinnsmodus“ nennt, eine Strategie, gegen irrationale Markt-Hysterie zu wetten.

Die Offenlegung erfolgte während eines umfangreichen Interviews mit Foresight News in Chiang Mai, wo Buterin seine wachsenden Bedenken äußerte, dass sich Krypto-Anwendungen von ihren ursprünglichen Missionen entfernen, trotz bedeutenden technologischen Fortschritts.

Buterins Gewinnstrategie bestand darin, Märkte zu identifizieren, die sich im „verrückten Modus“ befinden, und darauf zu wetten, dass unwahrscheinliche Ereignisse nicht eintreten würden, einschließlich Wetten gegen Donald Trump, der den Friedensnobelpreis gewinnt, und den Dollar, der während Panikphasen auf null zusammenbricht.

Seit Jahrzehnten sind Bankeinlagen eines der stillen Fundamente des Finanzsystems, die den Kreditgebern die kostengünstige Finanzierung bieten, die erforderlich ist, um Kredite zu erweitern und das Wirtschaftswachstum zu unterstützen.

Die Standard Chartered glaubt, dass das Risiko, dass Stablecoins langsam Geld aus traditionellen Konten abziehen, real ist, auch wenn es sich allmählich entfaltet.

In einer aktuellen Analyse, die von Bloomberg zitiert wurde, warnte die Bank, dass, während Stablecoins weiterhin an Bedeutung gewinnen, bis zu 500 Milliarden Dollar an Einlagen bis Ende 2028 aus Banken in entwickelten Märkten abfließen könnten.

Ethereum is positioning itself as the settlement layer for autonomous AI systems with the imminent mainnet launch of ERC-8004, a new standard that gives artificial intelligence agents portable identities and verifiable reputations across organizations.

The protocol addresses a fundamental trust gap in AI interactions by creating blockchain-based mechanisms for discovery and validation that enable agents to operate independently without centralized gatekeepers.

Davide Crapis, AI lead at the Ethereum Foundation, announced the deployment in a video post explaining how the standard enables secure AI-to-AI communication.

“Ethereum is in the unique position to be the platform that settles most of this AI-to-AI interaction,” Crapis said, noting that between one and two thousand builders have already joined development groups since the specification was published in August 2025.

Ethereum is in the unique position to be the platform that secures and settles AI-to-AI interactions.

The ERC-8004 standard is coming to mainnet. pic.twitter.com/sjMziiPuaQ

— Davide Crapis (@DavideCrapis) January 27, 2026

Solving AI’s Trust Crisis Through Blockchain Infrastructure

AI agents currently operate as isolated systems confined to their own ecosystems, unable to interact across organizational boundaries without pre-existing trust relationships.

OpenAI’s agents work only within OpenAI’s infrastructure, while Google’s agents recognize only Google’s rules, creating fragmented networks that limit autonomous capabilities.

While Google’s A2A protocol and Anthropic’s MCP have established communication standards that allow different AI systems to communicate, neither addresses the fundamental question of how agents discover reliable partners or verify their credentials.

ERC-8004 fills this gap by providing three core components for trustless agent interaction.

First, each AI agent receives a unique blockchain identity registered as an NFT, creating verifiable credentials that cannot be forged or tampered with.

2/ Agents are NFTs

You can mint, view in wallets, transfer, and manage them (including delegations to operators) using existing 721 infra & apps. pic.twitter.com/TFjzcZ8pJV

— Marco De Rossi (@marco_derossi) October 9, 2025

Second, the protocol records on-chain reputation scores based on user ratings and task performance, similar to Uber driver ratings but stored permanently on Ethereum.

Third, high-risk tasks requiring additional validation can leverage cryptographic proofs, trusted execution environments, or stake-secured verification to ensure agents deliver accurate results.

The standard works by registering agents through an Identity Registry that assigns each a unique ID and points to a registration file listing capabilities, endpoints, and supported protocols, including A2A, MCP, ENS names, and wallet addresses.

A Reputation Registry stores feedback from users who interact with agents, recording ratings and optional detailed reviews on IPFS for permanent access.

4 / Reputation is on-chain.

Using scores and custom tags (tag1, tag2), anyone can submit​, store and aggregate reputation signals on-chain. Events + optional extended feedback on IPFS power sophisticated off-chain analysis.

AI is the catalyst for distributed reputation on… pic.twitter.com/ZIJCTrwvKS

— Marco De Rossi (@marco_derossi) October 9, 2025

For sensitive operations like financial transactions, a Validation Registry connects agents with independent verifiers who can stake funds to re-run tasks or use zero-knowledge proofs to confirm outputs match claimed results.

Ethereum Ecosystem Rallies Behind Agent Economy Vision

The protocol’s co-authors include Marco De Rossi from MetaMask, Erik Reppel from Coinbase, and Jordan Ellis, formerly a core developer of Google’s Agent-to-Agent Protocol.

MetaMask has already integrated the standard, while more than 70 projects submitted demos and built agent browsers resembling blockchain explorers but designed specifically for discovering AI services.

Layer 2 networks, including Taiko, have officially endorsed ERC-8004 as builders race to establish infrastructure for what analysts project could become a trillion-dollar autonomous economy.

Community response has emphasized Ethereum’s unique position as a neutral ground for AI coordination.

“Civilizations scale because humans are capable of implicit trust, ai agents are not; their only path to building an agentic society is through a ledger of shared truth..aka a blockchain,” wrote developer binji. “ERC 8004 cements Ethereum and its L2s as that blockchain.“

it’s the start. February is genesis month will be key

— Davide Crapis (@DavideCrapis) January 27, 2026

The timing aligns with explosive growth in related infrastructure.

Coinbase’s x402 payment protocol, which enables AI agents to make automated stablecoin payments, saw transaction volume surge by more than 10,000% in October 2025.

The protocol works seamlessly with ERC-8004, handling payment mechanics, while the agent standard manages identity and trust verification.

Cloudflare and Coinbase subsequently launched the x402 Foundation to standardize machine-to-machine payments, with Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince announcing NET Dollar, a stablecoin specifically designed for AI agent micropayments.

Analysts view ERC-8004 as potentially transformative for Ethereum’s role in the broader technology landscape.

IOSG researcher Jiawei compared the protocol’s ambition to become the “TCP/IP of AI agents,” arguing that if agents need infrastructure free from single-company control, blockchain provides the only viable neutral coordination layer.

“If you are an AI agent, you have no loyalty other than your own survival; you wouldn’t want to stake your memory and reputation on any one company or government,” the researcher wrote.

Major technology companies, including Google, Coinbase, and MetaMask, are already participating in development, suggesting mainstream acceptance of blockchain-based AI coordination is building momentum beyond cryptocurrency-native projects.

The post Ethereum’s New ERC-8004 Lets AI Agents Work Anywhere – Is This the Future? appeared first on Cryptonews.

Die Krypto-Börse Bitget hat Oliver Stauber zum CEO von Bitget EU ernannt, während das Unternehmen Pläne vorantreibt, seinen europäischen Hauptsitz in Wien, Österreich, zu etablieren.

Der Schritt erfolgt, da sich Bitget für den Betrieb unter der Verordnung der Europäischen Union über Märkte für Krypto-Assets (MiCA) positioniert, die einen harmonisierten Rahmen für die Governance über den Block einführt.

Bitget beschreibt Europa als eine Kernregion im Rahmen seiner Universal Exchange-Vision, wobei MiCA erwartet wird, die nächste Phase regulierter digitaler Vermögensdienstleistungen in der EU zu gestalten.

Der Krypto-Riese Tether Holdings hat den aufstrebenden Goldmarkt mit massiven Metallvorräten im vergangenen Jahr aufgemischt. Der Stablecoin-Emittent hält jetzt rund 140 Tonnen Gold, so CEO Paolo Ardoino.

In einem Interview mit Bloomberg sprach Ardoino darüber, dass Tether weiterhin seine massiven Gewinne aus dem Halten anstrebt und mit Banken im Handel mit Edelmetallen konkurriert.

„Wir werden bald im Grunde genommen eine der größten, sagen wir, Goldzentralbanken der Welt“, bemerkte er.

Tethers schnelle Goldkäufe im vergangenen Jahr

Südkoreas oberster Finanzregulator drängt darauf, die Eigentumsanteile von Großaktionären in inländischen Krypto-Börsen zu begrenzen, was auf einen strikteren Ansatz in der Governance hinweist, während die Rolle der Branche im Finanzsystem wächst.

Wichtige Erkenntnisse:

Südkoreas Finanzregulator drängt darauf, die Anteile von Großaktionären an Krypto-Börsen auf 15 %–20 % zu begrenzen.

Der Vorschlag würde im geplanten Gesetz über digitale Vermögenswerte als Teil strengerer Governance-Regeln enthalten sein.

Regulierungsbehörden sagen, dass Eigentumsgrenzen erforderlich sind, da sich Börsen in Richtung eines lizenzierten Status bewegen, ähnlich wie bei öffentlicher Finanzinfrastruktur.

Ein Gesetzgeber aus South Dakota hat eine Gesetzgebung erneut eingebracht, die es dem Bundesstaat ermöglichen würde, einen Teil seiner öffentlichen Mittel in Bitcoin zu investieren, und damit einen Vorschlag wiederbelebt, der während der letzten Legislaturperiode ins Stocken geraten war.

Wichtige Erkenntnisse:

Ein Gesetzesentwurf aus South Dakota würde es dem Bundesstaat ermöglichen, bis zu 10 % der förderfähigen öffentlichen Mittel in Bitcoin durch mehrere Investitionsoptionen zu investieren.

Der Vorschlag umfasst strenge Aufbewahrungs- und Sicherheitsregeln für alle im Staatsbesitz befindlichen Bitcoins.

Das Bestreben spiegelt einen breiteren Trend wider, da US-Bundesstaaten Bitcoin-gestützte Reserve-Strategien erkunden.

Coinbase hat mit dem Backend-Test von Flipcash’s in Entwicklung befindlichem Stablecoin, USDF, begonnen, als Teil eines umfassenderen Vorstoßes, Unternehmen zu ermöglichen, ihre eigenen markenbasierten, dollar-gestützten Token über seine Plattform auszugeben.

Wichtige Erkenntnisse:

Coinbase testet intern Flipcash’s USDF im Rahmen seines Custom Stablecoins-Programms.

Das Feature ermöglicht es Unternehmen, USDC-gestützte Token für Zahlungen und Treasury-Nutzung auszugeben.

Stablecoins bleiben ein wichtiger Umsatztreiber für Coinbase.

Der Test ist an Coinbase Custom Stablecoins gebunden, ein im Dezember eingeführtes Feature, das Unternehmen ermöglicht, proprietäre Stablecoins zu erstellen, die durch Circle’s USDC besichert sind.

Thailands Sonderermittlungseinheit (DSI) hat vier hochrangige Beamte der Provinzstrombehörde (PEA) entlarvt, die angeblich ihre Befugnisse missbrauchten, um ein illegales Bitcoin-Mining-Syndikat zu betreiben.

Tausende von illegalen Mining-Rigs wurden von einem Assistenten des PEA-Gouverneurs beschlagnahmt, mit Bargeldeinlagen im Wert von 19 Millionen Baht (612.9K $).

Die Bangkok Post berichtete am Dienstag, dass die DSI drei Häuser durchsucht hat und Mining-Ausrüstung, Bargeld, Laptops, Telefone und Bankbuchunterlagen beschlagnahmt wurden.

„Operation Copperhead“ – Erweiterte Razzia gegen illegale Bitcoin-Mining-Operationen

Der Kryptomarkt gewann in den letzten 24 Stunden weniger als 1%, da Bitcoin (BTC) unter der $90.000-Marke feststeckt. Trotz eines kurzen Versuchs, das Niveau zurückzuerobern, hat eine starke Verkaufsliquidität nahe $89.500 das führende Asset in eine seitliche Bewegung gezwungen, derzeit nur um 0,82% im Plus. Während BTC den Schwung fehlt, um auszubrechen, boomt der DeFi-Sektor, angeführt von einem massiven Anstieg von 27,77% bei Hyperliquid (HYPE) und Gewinnen von Jupiter (JUP). Ethereum (ETH) gewann 1,7% und wird nahe $3.000 gehandelt, doch die allgemeine Marktvorsicht bleibt bestehen. Während institutionelles Kapital in Richtung KI und hochverzinslicher Protokolle rotiert, spüren die Bereiche GameFi und DePIN den Druck, was zu einem kleinen Rückzug heute führt, während die Händler auf einen entscheidenden Schritt von Bitcoin warten.

Bitcoin stieg in den frühen asiatischen Handelszeiten leicht auf 89.000 $, während die Anleger einen unruhigen regionalen Handelsstart beobachteten und dann ihre Aufmerksamkeit auf eine Vielzahl von US-Gewinnen und neue Gespräche über weitere Finanzierungen für OpenAI richteten.

Die Tiefe des Kryptomarktes blieb dünn. Spot-Bitcoin-ETFs zogen kaum frisches Geld an nach heftigen Rücknahmen in der letzten Woche, und die Positionierung bei Derivaten lockerte sich, eine Kombination, die Händler dazu brachte, sich eher auf kurzfristige Bereiche als auf große Richtungswetten zu konzentrieren.

Aktien sendeten ein gemischtes Signal über das Festland-China. Der Shanghai-Benchmark stieg um 0,21 %, und der DJ Shanghai-Index gewann 0,22 %. Der SZSE Component fiel um 0,10 % und der China A50 sank um 0,20 %.

Morgan Stanley hat eine neue Rolle geschaffen, um seine Strategie für digitale Vermögenswerte zu koordinieren, und hat die langjährige Führungskraft Amy Oldenburg beauftragt, während die Bank ihren Vorstoß in die Krypto-Welt verstärkt.

Oldenburg wird laut einem internen Memo, das am Montag von den Co-Präsidenten Andy Saperstein und Dan Simkowitz verschickt wurde, in einem unternehmensweiten Strategie- und Umsetzungsprozess sitzen, berichtete Bloomberg am Dienstag.

Sie kommt von Morgan Stanley Investment Management, wo sie zuletzt die Aktienmärkte in Schwellenländern leitete und digitale Vermögensinitiativen innerhalb der Einheit beaufsichtigte.