Cryptopolitan

Crypto traders switched to precious metals, chasing the upside of gold and silver. Just days after expanding token-based silver markets, the price shifted direction. 

Crypto traders adapted to the underwhelming performance by switching to silver, last year’s big runner. Silver set out for a series of records in 2026 as well, leading to a trading rush to make use of a newly active asset. 

Until recently, only tokenized gold was more actively traded. However, silver turned into an appealing access point, with predictions for an ongoing rally. Crypto platforms adapted, as new markets emerged for silver contracts through Hyperliquid’s HIP-3. 

Precious metal tokens and perpetual futures replaced the sluggish altcoin market with a higher upside and presumably, a more stable price action. 

Traditional assets, even when volatile, rarely had wild price swings within hours. However, silver’s recent breakdown defied this narrative, leading to another round of liquidations for crypto traders. Silver surged by leaps in January, rising up to 20% in days and becoming the new darling of both traditional and on-chain traders. 

Silver reversal led to liquidations

Silver crashed from over $120 per ounce to around $101, affecting both traditional and crypto markets. 

Most of the liquidity for silver was available through HIP-3, and the trading pairs were deployed in the past two weeks. 

One of the major liquidations happened on XYZ: silver, a new perpetual futures pair by an independent deployer. One of the whales had a position for over $8.99B liquidated in a single transaction. 

A Hyperliquid whale got liquidated on a silver position after the precious metal had a rapid downturn. | Source: Hyperliquid.

In total, Hyperliquid saw $11M in silver positions wiped out, as the same whale lost a smaller position of $2.21M. 

An unraveling of this speed has been anticipated for BTC or altcoins. However, the precious metals market has rarely shown this type of price action, especially the highly improbable correction. Silver is still up by 208% in the past year, though crypto traders only caught the latest segment of the pump above $100.

Will silver traders rotate back to crypto?

On-chain silver markets are still in their early stage. Silver itself behaves not unlike volatile altcoins, causing a similar effect. For now, volumes may continue to flow into silver contracts, as HIP-3 is just starting to grow its influence. 

Silver became the top asset on Hyperliquid’s HIP-3, drawing speculative interest as traders moved away from digital assets and into metals. | Source: Dune Analytics.

As of January 27, HIP-3 set another trading record with $1.79B in daily volumes. Silver is also the main driver of the user and fee records in recent days. During the market climb, the market caused a series of short liquidations. 

The other problem is that on-chain silver trading is mostly limited to a single market, concentrating risk. Additionally, on-chain markets may face some confusion on the actual price of spot silver, which has closing hours and does not trade 24/7. The contracts are also not a store of value, since they only offer price speculation and are not a tokenized real asset.

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As Dogecoin (DOGE) fades from the spotlight and price consolidates, analysts are looking for the next big crypto investment. Investors are shifting their focus towards Mutuum Finance (MUTM), a new DeFi crypto token with a current value of $0.04 during presale. The crypto token has been building momentum through increasing holder numbers and the recent V1 protocol launch. Mutuum Finance has raised $20.25 million and attained an 18,930 holding.

Dogecoin (DOGE) Shows Gradual Consolidation

Dogecoin (DOGE) is trading at $0.175, moving steadily along a descending channel formation on the 1-day chart. As can be seen, it has been steadily making lower highs and lower lows since it peaked at $0.27. The descending channel has been acting as a steady resistance level for the token. Currently, it is approaching a support level at $0.14, which, if broken, would likely test the $0.06 level. The RSI is at a neutral level of 41.81, and the trading volume has been steadily decreasing, indicating a consolidation period. Although it is a recognizable token, Dogecoin has a low growth potential, which is why investors are keeping an eye on Mutuum Finance.

MUTM: Positioned for Strong Growth

The presale of Mutuum Finance offers a unique investment opportunity for investors to realize their maximum gains. In Phase 7, the price of the MUTM token is set at $0.04, which will increase to $0.045 in Phase 8. This means that, for example, an investment of $3,000 at a price of $0.04 will result in the purchase of 75,000 MUTM tokens. This investment will be worth $3,375 when the price rises to $0.045, thus providing an instant gain of $375, even before the official launch of the token. The official token launch will be $0.06, leading to even bigger returns. However, the real excitement will begin after the official launch, with up to 20x gains expected. 

The Mutuum Finance Protocol is now live on the Sepolia testnet, allowing users to access various features such as lending, borrowing, and staking. The platform has features, including liquidity pools, mtTokens, debt tokens, and an automated liquidator bot. At the moment, the platform is supporting USDT, ETH, LINK, and WBTC. With the ability to generate yields, crypto holders can benefit from the use of the Mutuum Finance Protocol, making it a prime candidate for the next big crypto in DeFi.

Unlock Liquidity Without Selling Assets

One of the biggest issues that crypto investors face is the ability to access cash without having to sell off their investments and thus forgoing the opportunity to gain from future price appreciation. However, the borrowing mechanism proposed by the MUTM platform addresses this issue. For instance, if an investor puts in 4 ETH, valued at approximately $12,000, the user can then borrow $9,600 in the form of USDT at an 80% LTV ratio. The ETH remains exposed to future price gains in the market while they access instant cash to attend to their pressing needs. 

MUTM’s Reserve Factor: Safety and Stability in Action

The reserve factor is one of the most important factors in the Mutuum Finance (MUTM) protocol, as it helps ensure the long-term stability of the platform, providing safety and stability for both lenders and borrowers. The reserve factor can be thought of as an automatic risk management tool, where a small percentage of the interest paid by borrowers goes into the reserve pool. This reserve pool is essential in maintaining protocol solvency.

To understand this concept, let’s take an example where a user borrows a stable asset. Suppose that the user borrows 10,000 USDC with an APY of 8%. If the USDC asset has a reserve factor of 10%, then the lender could receive 7.2% of the APY, and the remaining 0.8% goes into the reserve pool. However, in the case where the asset is not stable, the reserve factor must be higher. For example, let’s say that the user borrows an asset with an APY of 12% and a reserve factor of 25%. In this case, the lender receives 9% of the APY, and the remaining 3% goes into the reserve pool.

As the popularity of Dogecoin fades, Mutuum Finance (MUTM) is becoming the next big crypto. The DeFi crypto token, priced at $0.04, is live with its lending platform, secure borrowing, and high-growth potential, making it one of the best utility-focused DeFi crypto investment opportunities.

For more information about Mutuum Finance (MUTM) visit the links below:

Website: https://mutuum.com/ 

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance 

The Central Reserve Bank (BCR) of El Salvador announced on January 303 that it made a new purchase of 9,298 troy ounces of gold, valued at $50 million, on international markets, reinforcing its push to build bullion reserves as gold prices soar.  

This was not the nation’s first distribution in a long time. The purchase comes after 13,999 troy ounces, which were similarly valued at about $50 million at the time, were acquired in September 2025. According to the central bank, the new purchase lifted the country’s total gold holdings to 67,403 ounces, valued at approximately $360 million at the current price.

El Salvador expands gold reserves and Bitcoin holdings

El Banco Central de Reserva realizó una nueva adquisición de 9,298 onzas troy de oro en los mercados internacionales, equivalentes a US$50 millones, como parte de su estrategia de incremento en las tenencias de este metal. pic.twitter.com/1GD7H4Bd0X

— Banco Central de Reserva (@bcr_sv) January 29, 2026

According to the Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador, “this second acquisition strengthens the country’s long-term assets while maintaining a prudent balance in the composition of the assets that make up the International Reserves,” the bank stated. However, no official target level for future purchases was specified in the statement.

The BRC described gold as a “universally strategic reserve asset” that supports long-term financial stability. It maintained that the metal increases trust among investors and citizens and protects the domestic economy from structural shifts in global markets.

President Nayib Bukele reposted the announcement on X, “We just bought the other dip.” It was unclear if Bukele was cheekily revealing the government’s own bitcoin purchase or celebrating the gold purchase.

The recent gold purchase comes at a time when the nation is making ongoing efforts to increase its exposure to Bitcoin, further solidifying its reputation as a global leader in cryptocurrency. The government has gradually accumulated coins for the national treasury since making Bitcoin legal tender.

On-chain data from Arkham Intelligence revealed that El Salvador has continued to accumulate bitcoin through a succession of one-bitcoin purchases, with recent transactions totaling between $84,700 and $95,400 each. 

The data reflects many additions over the past two weeks alone, including transactions of roughly $88,000–$89,000 on several consecutive days and higher-priced acquisitions above $95,000 earlier this month. The regular inflows are consistent with President Nayib Bukele’s vow for the government to buy one bitcoin each day, strengthening the country’s long-term accumulation strategy.

On-chain data revealed that the country’s stack now stands at 7,547 Bitcoins, worth around $619.54 million at the current price of $82,087, down 6.53%.

Global gold demand drives investors’ purchases

El Salvador’s recent action is taking place amid rising global demand for gold. The metal has rallied nearly 20% year to date, hitting multiple record highs amid intensifying geopolitical and macroeconomic tensions. Building on this momentum, investors globally have moved into safe-haven holdings. 

For instance, on January 20, the National Bank of Poland (NBP) announced plans to increase its gold reserves to 700 tons to lessen its dependence on conventional reserve currencies. Adam Glapinski, the President of NBP, revealed that the bank was the biggest net buyer among central banks in 2025, having bought over 100 tonnes of gold.

While some central banks are transparent about their purchases, China is quietly increasing its gold holdings. According to a Kobeissi Letter report, China is still secretly hoarding gold. Last December, the country made its 14th consecutive monthly purchase of an extra 0.9 tons of the metal. 

The report noted China is reporting 10–11 times less gold than it actually purchases, meaning that the +27 tons of total gold purchases officially reported in 2025 may actually be +270 tons. A Cryptopolitan report dated January 27 noted that China’s projected gold purchases in November exceeded 10 tons, roughly 11 times the amount reported by the People’s Bank of China (PBoC). The report said that China is buying gold as if the world were in a huge crisis.

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A US federal jury found a former Google engineer guilty of stealing artificial intelligence trade secrets and sending them to China, according to the Department of Justice’s statement released Thursday.

The 38-year-old defendant, Linwei Ding, has been convicted of seven counts of economic espionage and theft of trade secrets. The US Northern District of California court ruling said that the actions were carried out for the benefit of the People’s Republic of China.

During the trial, Ding was accused of stealing more than 2,000 internal documents from Google’s systems. US Attorneys, in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation found that the files were transferred to his personal Google Cloud account while he was still on the company’s payroll.

The Justice Department first brought the charges in March 2024, but a later indictment added more counts to the allegations, including claims that Ding participated in Chinese AI technology initiatives. 

Former Google engineer sent data center schematics to Beijing

According to the evidence presented in court, the stolen documents contained plans for Google’s advanced computing infrastructure. The material included data center schematics capable of providing sufficient power for large artificial intelligence projects. 

The stolen information also provided information about Google’s internal software for managing computing clusters. That software coordinates thousands of specialized chips into a unified system, which is purportedly central to the company’s AI capabilities.

Jurors heard that the files contained technical details on proprietary hardware, including Google’s Tensor Processing Units and Graphics Processing Units. The data also covered how the software used in those chips communicates and executes several complex tasks.

Another leaked topic was Google’s SmartNIC technology, a specialized network interface card that supports communication within AI supercomputers, cloud networks, and other services.

According to witnesses’ testimonies, the document transfers happened between May 2022 and April 2023. Ding was an employee at Google at the time, while he was also building connections with companies based in China.

Prosecutors said Ding was in talks to become a chief technology officer at a PRC technology startup. By early 2023, he was working to establish his own AI and machine learning company in China as the company’s chief executive.

In presentations to investors, Ding allegedly said he could replicate advanced AI computing systems by adapting Google’s technology. Ding downloaded the material onto his personal computer less than two weeks before his resignation in December 2023, per court records.

Evidence citing Ding’s interactions with the Chinese government showed he applied to a Shanghai-based government-backed talent program in late 2023. 

“Ding’s application for this talent plan stated that he planned to help China have computing power infrastructure capabilities that are on par with the international level. The evidence at trial also showed that Ding intended to benefit two entities controlled by the government of China by assisting with the development of an AI supercomputer and collaborating on the research and development of custom machine learning chips,” the DOJ wrote in its statement.

National security concerns emerge as the AI race continues

US officials said Linwei Ding’s actions and the misuse of AI research pose risks to America’s national security. According to the FBI and DOJ, Silicon Valley is pioneering AI research that would boost the country’s economic growth and improve its security. 

“The theft and misuse of advanced artificial intelligence technology for the benefit of the People’s Republic of China threatens our technological edge and economic competitiveness,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani.

Ding is scheduled to appear at a status conference on February 3, where he will be sentenced. He is facing a potential 10-year sentence for each count of trade secret theft, while each economic espionage conviction could bring up to 15 years in prison.

Meanwhile, China has been investing heavily in AI infrastructure since 2021, directing around $100 billion into AI data centers. However, a recent industry report said the average utilization rate nationwide is just 32%.

In an opinion article published in China Economic Weekly, Rao Shaoyang of the China Telecom Research Institute warned the country against “blindly building intelligent computing centres” and asked planners to look at local demand before launching any new projects.

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The start of 2026 has been a chill to the market of digital assets. Over the years, investors regarded the largest cryptocurrency as an unstoppable power. However, that is changing as the market starts to prefer some utility rather than mere name recognition. Older assets are being quietly put off by large capital holders. They are looking out to the next crypto generation of financial technology that is really ready to be utilized. It is a subtle but rapid shift, and it is the harbinger of a new decentralized financial era.

Bitcoin (BTC) 

Bitcoin trades at a price of around $88,000 and has a market capital of about $1.75T. Although such figures are huge, it is still a substantial decrease compared to the heights of late 2025. The asset has bumped into significant levels of resistance such as the value of $94,000 and $101,000. 

The institutional outflows are also accelerating due to de-risking of the investors. Certain analysts have also made a bleak price forecast of the remaining 2026. They indicate that BTC may not experience a minimal increment of 15% of where it is now. Worst case scenario The price may fall back to around $74,000 as the market dominance may decrease.

Mutuum Finance (MUTM)

While top crypto giants face a period of deceleration, Mutuum Finance (MUTM) is gaining significant technical momentum. The project is focused on building a high-performance decentralized borrowing and lending system designed for maximum capital efficiency. As confirmed by an official announcement on X, the V1 protocol has been successfully activated on the Sepolia testnet, marking a transition from conceptual development to a functional, live product.

This activation represents a major milestone in the project’s roadmap. The V1 environment allows users to interact with live liquidity pools and the proprietary mtToken system, which issues interest-bearing receipts to lenders. Simultaneously, the protocol utilizes debt tokens to provide transparent on-chain tracking for all borrowing activity. 

To ensure ecosystem security, the release includes an automated liquidator bot designed to monitor loan health and maintain solvency during market volatility. This testnet phase provides a real-world setting for participants to verify how they can earn yield or access liquidity against their assets before the full mainnet deployment.

MUTM Growth Since Q1 2025

The MUTM presale has been experiencing an all time demand as the market seeks fresh opportunities. The project has already surpassed almost $20 million and has more than 18,900 holders. The company is in Phase 7 with a token price of $0.04. The 4 billion total number of tokens are allocated to the presale community at 45.5% or 1.82 billion. 

The project has a 24 hour leaderboard to ensure that it is exciting. The highest customer in terms of purchases during the day is given a bonus of $500 in MUTM tokens. To make it as easy as possible, the users can participate in presale with different crypto payments or just direct card purchase.

A Roadmap Built on Security

Mutuum Finance places security at the very center of its architectural design, ensuring that user protection is a foundational pillar rather than an afterthought. The protocol has successfully undergone a comprehensive smart contract security assessment by Halborn Security, a premier cybersecurity firm renowned for stress-testing some of the most prominent platforms in the decentralized finance space. This rigorous review confirmed that the protocol’s core logic—including its lending, borrowing, and liquidation mechanisms—meets high industry standards for safety and reliability.

Complementing this independent audit, the MUTM token has achieved an impressive Token Scan score of 90/100 from CertiK, a global leader in blockchain security analysis. This high trust rating reflects the project’s commitment to transparency and its proactive approach to mitigating common smart contract risks. 

Looking toward the long-term roadmap, Mutuum Finance is set to further enhance its ecosystem with the introduction of a native, over-collateralized stablecoin. This will allow users to access liquidity without being forced to sell their core holdings, while the integration of Chainlink oracles will provide the high-fidelity, decentralized price feeds necessary for accurate collateral valuation and secure liquidation triggers. By combining these advanced financial tools with a multi-layered security stack, Mutuum Finance is positioning itself as a best crypto leader within the 2026 altcoin market.

For more information about Mutuum Finance (MUTM) visit the links below:

Website: https://www.mutuum.com
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance

Apple plans to speed up production of its three most expensive iPhone models set for 2026 while pushing back the release of its basic version, according to a Friday report from Nikkei Asia. The publication spoke with four sources familiar with the company’s plans.

According to Reuters, it could not confirm the information right away. Apple did not respond when Reuters reached out for comment after regular work hours.

Foldable iPhone and upgraded models take priority

The company will concentrate on getting its first foldable iPhone ready along with two regular models that have better cameras and bigger screens, the report said. These phones are scheduled to come out in the second half of 2026. Meanwhile, the standard iPhone 18 won’t arrive until the first half of 2027.

Apple is making this change to use its resources better and earn more money from its pricier phones, according to the report. The company also wants to deal with the higher costs of memory chips and other materials. Another reason is to reduce problems that might come up when making the foldable phone, which uses more complicated manufacturing methods.

An executive at a company that supplies parts for iPhones explained the decision to Nikkei Asia. “Supply chain smoothness is one of the key challenges for this year, and the marketing strategy change also played a part in the decision (to prioritize premium models),” the person said.

Strong sales despite production changes

Apple released sales figures on Thursday that were higher than Wall Street anticipated. The corporation sold a lot of iPhones, and its business in China bounced back rapidly. In Apple interview with Reuters, CEO Tim Cook stated that consumers are desperate for the newest iPhones. He called the demand “staggering.”

Additionally, the change helps Apple deal with a lack of memory chips worldwide. The corporation can obtain sufficient parts for its most lucrative devices by concentrating on fewer models. This tactic guarantees that the intricate foldable screens fulfill quality requirements prior to the base models’ 2027 release.

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ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood has stated that the likelihood of a decline in gold prices is increasing. Writing on X, Wood noted historical monetary indicators suggesting that gold may be at the end of a cycle.

Recent market data has fueled that argument. Intraday trading showed that gold’s market capitalization relative to the US money supply (M2) reached a historic extreme. The ratio exceeded levels last seen in 1980, when inflation was double-digit, and interest rates were high. More notably, it also surpassed readings linked to the Great Depression of 1934, when sweeping monetary disruption redefined the U.S. financial system.

Valuation signals a flash warning as dollar conditions shift

Wood emphasized that the current macro context is very different from that in other periods. The American economy is neither in a runaway inflation nor in a deflationary collapse. Meanwhile, financial situations have improved.

The 10-year U.S Treasury yield, which reached close to 5% at the end of 2023, has since dropped to approximately 4.2%. Against that backdrop, Wood maintained that the parabolic rise in gold prices does not appear to be related to fundamentals.

“The US economy today looks nothing like the double-digit inflation-prone 1970s or the deflationary bust of the 1930s. True, foreign central banks have been diversifying away from the dollar for years; yet, the 10-year Treasury bond yield peaked at 5% in late 2023 and is now 4.2%,” Wood wrote.

Wood also emphasized currency dynamics. Although foreign central banks are slowly moving away from the dollar, a renewed appreciation of the U.S. currency could put pressure on gold prices. She quoted the period from 1980 to 2000 when a stronger dollar was accompanied by a long-term decline in gold, wiping off over 60% of its value.

While parabolic moves often take asset prices higher than most investors would think possible, the out-of-this-world spikes tend to occur at the end of a cycle. In our view, the bubble today is not in AI, but in gold. An upturn in the dollar could pop that bubble, a la 1980 to…

— Cathie Wood (@CathieDWood) January 30, 2026

The gold-to-M2 framework is not accepted by all market participants. Macro traders retaliated, saying M2 has since stopped being a stable reference point in a post-quantitative-easing, digitally integrated financial system.

Analysts dispute central bank buying narrative

Further skepticism has come from Robin Brooks, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and former chief economist at the Institute of International Finance, who was a chief FX strategist at Goldman Sachs. In a Substack post, Brooks debunked claims that central bank demand is driving gold prices higher.

He argued that many charts cited to support that narrative confuse price appreciation and actual buying. As the price of gold rises, the share of gold in central bank reserves rises automatically, even if reserves remain flat. Brooks said there have been no spikes in the volume of official-sector gold, according to International Monetary Fund data. He concluded that recent gains more closely reflect the traits of retail speculation than those of institutional accumulation.

During publication, gold spot prices in United States dollars were down 2.60% at $5,232.81 per ounce, down from a recent all-time high of $5,595.46. The pullback has reopened the debate on whether the rally is over.

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The Democratic Party of South Korea has proposed tabling the Virtual Asset Phase 2 Act ahead of the Lunar New Year, aiming to regulate stablecoins and shareholder limits. Several regulatory debates have arisen since the Framework Act on Digital Assets was introduced over whether banks or tech firms should issue South Korean won-backed stablecoins.

The debate is also focused on whether limiting the ownership of major shareholders in digital asset exchanges to the proposed 15%-20% is appropriate. The South Korean Democratic Party is also proposing that stablecoin issuers should hold a minimum capital of ~$3.46 million (5B Won).

However, South Korea’s industry insiders are concerned that legislation could be delayed if the disagreement rages on, according to local media. They also fear that further delays to the legislation could lead to the South Korean financial markets falling behind global trends.

Meanwhile, ongoing talks about the won-pegged stablecoin issuer have stalled. Representative Ahn Do-geol, a member of the Digital Assets Task Force, disclosed that opinions are split on the proposed shareholding structure regarding whether banks should have a 50% + 1 share of the won-backed stablecoin issuance sector. 

Bank of Korea argues that banks should hold majority stake

The Bank of Korea (BoK) has expressed concerns about maintaining the effectiveness of monetary policy and protecting investors, arguing that banks should hold a majority share and steer issuance. However, the South Korean Financial Services Commission (FSC) believes that allowing private tech companies to issue stablecoins would facilitate faster market entry and ecosystem expansion. The prolonged stalemate has led to several delays in the proposed legislation originally planned for 2025.

Adding to the confusion, South Korea’s industry insiders are reportedly opposed to banks controlling stablecoin issuance, arguing that the won-backed tokens will be more like new-concept deposit products than stablecoins. They believe this will not align with global market trends and may lead to a complete stagnation of stablecoin issuance.  

In particular, South Korean industry insiders note that no other country in the world requires a majority stake in any industry, including banking. They cited countries such as Singapore, the U.S., Japan, and many in Europe that have established regulations allowing government-approved private companies to issue stablecoins alongside banks.

Meanwhile, South Korea’s People Power Party (PPP) has also opposed the SK FSC’s proposal to limit stakes for major crypto exchange shareholders. The PPP argues that limiting these stakes could lead to increased capital flight and confusion.

South Korea’s FSC chair says regulating ownership is necessary 

The SK FSC chairman, Lee Eok-won, recently stated that regulating the ownership of major digital asset exchanges is both necessary and efficient, considering the public infrastructure nature of exchanges. However, one digital asset industry insider noted that the process of major shareholders selling their shares and restructuring corporate governance could take months or even years. It is questionable whether these steps will truly refresh the South Korean digital asset market.

Meanwhile, the BoK is looking into implementing a registration system for domestic institutions to issue won-pegged stablecoins. However, South Korea’s central bank has expressed concerns that won-backed stablecoins could bypass capital controls. 

On the other hand, South Korean regulators are also divided on stablecoin issuance rules. Media reports suggest that external trade threats and exchange rate fluctuations have further escalated tensions. However, the South Korean digital asset market is gaining momentum despite these regulatory challenges. The SK market has also grown exponentially following the recent introduction of KRW-backed stablecoin projects and the legalization of corporate crypto trading.

In the meantime, Korea Digital Asset has partnered with privacy-focused blockchain project Miden to advance crypto infrastructure for institutional adoption in South Korea. The initiative is expected to prioritize regulatory compliance and adherence to South Korean industry standards. The collaboration further seeks to promote the regulated and secure use of digital assets within institutional settings.

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Crypto Twitter has once again revived its frustration with Binance and its former chief executive, months after the exchange allegedly caused a market slump during the unforgettable 10/10 liquidation event.

Over the past five days, Changpeng Zhao has been labeled a “fraud” and “worse than SBF” on several social media platforms. Although the ex-Binance CEO believes the attacks are fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD) driven, retail traders are undoubtedly frustrated by the mere fact that the market has not recovered from what happened last October.

CZ bashed for saying ‘buy-and-hold’ is the best investment strategy

It all began when Zhao posted a message on X last weekend, in which he argued that most trading strategies fail to beat a simple buy-and-hold method. In the eyes of the crypto community, his remarks have entirely overlooked the current reality. 

Not the first time, won't be the last time.

Been receiving FUD attacks since day 1. Will address it in the AMA tonight, look below the surface on why and how.

While our (self perceived) "competitors" focus on us, we continue to build and grow. 💪 https://t.co/g7bil6w5Mh

— CZ 🔶 BNB (@cz_binance) January 30, 2026

Bitcoin is down by a whopping 25% in the last 3 months and is now trading at $82,000, according to CoinGecko. October 10 was the last time the coin was changing hands above $120,000. 

Moreover, according to price charts for tokens listed on Binance in 2025 and 2026, more than 90% of 221 Alpha-listed projects are far below their post-listing highs. That perceived disconnect has made traders lose their trust in Binance listings and what Zhao says.

“CZ I held all the tokens listed on Binance last year. Please advise,” one trader wrote, mocking the former Binance’s head advice.

Zhao addressed the criticism in a follow-up post on Thursday, boasting that “FUD doesn’t hurt his target,” and “his followers increased.” He continued, saying that FUD damages the entire crypto market, and insisted that neither he nor Binance sells tokens in significant amounts.

“I/Binance do not sell in any meaningful amounts. My selling = I swipe my card, and $5 worth of BNB gets converted/sent to the coffee shop. I don’t run Binance anymore, but based on what I know: Binance only converts a portion of its revenue to pay for expenses. They are a large net hoarder,” he explained. 

Zhao also said Binance is under the scope of regulators worldwide, who can review every trade on every account. “Don’t be misinformed. Use your energy on positive improvement for yourself,” the Binance co-founder concluded.

OKX founder and Cathie Wood blame Binance for 10/10 woes

On Wednesday, OKX founder Star Xu wrote that “people had underestimated the impact of the 10/0 incident,” also saying it “caused real and lasting damage to the industry.” The total crypto market capitalization has fallen by more than 20% since the doomsday, dropping to around $3.2 trillion at the time of this publication. 

Binance reported paying about $283 million in compensation caused by de-pegging incidents and related issues. The company said the most severe technical problems happened after prices had already bottomed, and that more payouts were planned for verified losses. 

However, Xu believes Binance caused the volatility by supporting profit takers, insider trading, and Ponzi crypto schemes. Though he did not mention any names in his critique, it was clear to Crypto Twitter that Binance was the platform he was talking about.

“Some chose to pursue short-term gains, launching Ponzi-like schemes, amplifying a handful of ‘get-rich-quick’ narratives, and directly or indirectly manipulating the prices of low-quality tokens, drawing millions of users into assets closely tied to them. This has become their shortcut for attracting traffic and user attention,” the OKX founder claimed. 

In a recent interview with Fox Business, ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood revisited the October 10 turmoil. Wood said the ecosystem has been dealing with aftershocks from the forced deleveraging event for the past two to three months.

CATHIE WOOD: THE WORST IS LIKELY OVER FOR BITCOIN

Cathie just laid it out pretty clearly and says the last 2–3 months were basically the aftershock from the Oct 10 flash crash — a Binance software glitch that forced ~$28B of deleveraging across crypto. Bitcoin took the hardest… pic.twitter.com/iOuLCzOHaG

— CryptosRus (@CryptosR_Us) January 27, 2026

She estimated that the unwind erased $28 billion from the industry, and linked the episode to a technical issue at Binance. “October 10th was, what in the crypto world…is the flash crash associated with a software glitch on Binance that deleveraged the system,” she surmised.

In a now-deleted X post, Binance CEO Yi He responded to Wood’s sentiments, saying, “Cathie Wood isn’t a Binance user. We don’t serve US Individuals or entities. No offense.”

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BTC options on Deribit went through their first monthly expiry in 2026, serving as an indicator of market sentiment. Positions point to bearish hedging as BTC unraveled to the $82,000 range. 

On Friday, 91,000 BTC options contracts expired with a put-call ratio of 0.48 and maximum pain at $90,000. The contracts had a notional value of $7.6B. Another $1.19B in ETH contracts expired, with a put-call ratio of 0.68. 

The January expiry is the first big event following the rollover from 2025. The notional options expiring today accounted for 25% of open interest, for a total of $9B. Call options dominated, signaling a bearish ratio with protections from a further downside for BTC and ETH. 

As BTC faces uncertain demand and range-bound trading, the options event further sent out a sentiment indicator of bearish expectations. 

Options bring downside protection to $75,000 per BTC

As BTC and ETH entered another downtrend in the past week, signs of fear once again spread on the crypto market. The early 2026 trading followed the unraveling in Q4 2025. For now, BTC finds support at the $80,000 level, while ETH holds above $2,500. 

In the past month, downside protection positions shifted from $85,000 to $80,000. Contracts for the months ahead point to a higher probability for a shift to $80,000, rather than a run to $120,000.

BTC options showed expanded downside protection, with a lower probability of a hike to $120,000. | Source: CoinGlass.

The most numerous contracts are now at the $80,000 psychological level, and another accumulation of put contracts at $75,000 per BTC. The latest market cycle showed elevated options trading activity, as positions aimed for better protection from a bear market. 

The latest options expiry event saw a higher trading volume, mostly due to the new year rollover. Based on Deribit data, market makers and active traders have significant cash reserves and are ready to use options as a form of bearish hedging. 

Will BTC recover after the options expiry?

Historically, BTC trading often shifted directions following significant options expiry events. Options expiry is often seen as a source of price pressure ahead of the event, as traders try to push the price to a profitable options position. 

Following this week’s expiry, BTC traded at $82,252.43, while ETH sank to $2,717.77. BTC is trading with a sentiment of extreme fear, expecting even lower drawdowns. 

To date in January, BTC is down by 3.35%, in a traditionally slow month during multiple cycles. The asset is now nearly 120 days from its all-time peak, with a 30% drawdown, setting bearish expectations of corrections as low as $40,000.

BTC traders are also noticing BTC is rejecting any attempt to move above $90,000, potentially pointing to deliberate selling. The coin increased its volatility in January, shifting to lower ranges after several liquidation events.

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Microsoft Research rolled out a new robot control system in late January 2026 that lets machines work with their hands while processing spoken commands and physical feedback. The system, called Rho-alpha, marks the company’s entry into foundation models designed for robots that use two arms at once.

The technology will first reach select groups through an Early Access Program before Microsoft makes it available more widely on its Foundry platform. Companies can then adapt the system to their specific needs using their own data.

Adding touch to robot intelligence

Factories and warehouses are looking for robots that can handle changing conditions rather than repeating the same programmed motions forever. Hospital settings need machines that adjust to different situations. Production lines where items vary from batch to batch create problems that old-style automation can’t solve efficiently. Microsoft built Rho-alpha to fill this need by processing what robots see and hear alongside what they physically feel through sensors.

Most robot systems today rely on cameras and microphones to understand their surroundings and take instruction. Rho-alpha adds another layer by treating touch as equally important. When a robot gripper has pressure sensors built in, the system gets information that cameras miss entirely. This matters when trying to plug something into a socket or fit parts together where sight alone doesn’t provide enough detail about whether things are lining up correctly.

Microsoft showed off these abilities using two Universal Robots UR5e arms equipped with sensors that detect pressure and contact. During tests with a task set called BusyBox, people told the robot to do things like put a tray inside a toolbox and shut the lid. The system turned those words into coordinated movements between both arms and made adjustments based on what the sensors felt. When attempts to insert a plug didn’t work on the first try, a human operator could guide the robot using a 3D input device, and the system learned from those corrections.

Getting enough training data remains the biggest challenge in building capable robots. Language models can learn from massive amounts of text available online, but robot training requires actual physical demonstrations that take time and money to record. Microsoft addressed this by training Rho-alpha on three types of information: recordings of real physical demonstrations, simulated practice tasks, and large datasets of images with questions and answers from the web. The company uses Nvidia Isaac Sim running on Azure servers to create realistic synthetic scenarios through a reinforcement learning process.

This simulation setup produces physically accurate practice situations that supplement the real demonstrations. The combined approach lets the model encounter unusual cases and failure situations that would otherwise require thousands of hours of real-world operation to capture.

The training method follows patterns other companies in robotics are using. Google DeepMind’s Gemini Robotics system, Figure AI’s Helix model for humanoid robots, and Physical Intelligence’s Pi-zero all take similar approaches to work around the data shortage problem. The technique helps these systems learn general manipulation skills without needing specific demonstrations for every single task they might face.

Competing in a maturing market

Microsoft joins a robotics foundation model market that has grown considerably over the past year and a half. Nvidia released GR00T N1.6 aimed at humanoid robots, focusing on whole-body control and understanding context. Google DeepMind expanded Gemini into robotics with abilities ranging from folding paper into origami shapes to handling playing cards. Physical Intelligence presents Pi-zero as an all-purpose system trained across different robot types.

Rho-alpha stands out in three ways. First, the emphasis on tactile sensing tackles situations where systems relying only on vision struggle. Second, the model comes from Microsoft’s Phi series, which the company has tuned to run efficiently on regular consumer hardware. This background suggests it could run on local devices without needing constant connection to cloud servers. Third, the focus on learning from human corrections during actual operation sets it apart from models that need complete retraining to pick up new behaviors.

Microsoft’s business approach also differs from competitors. The company plans to offer Rho-alpha through its Foundry platform as infrastructure that manufacturers and system integrators can customize with their own proprietary information. This mirrors the company’s approach with Azure OpenAI Service and targets organizations wanting to create specialized versions rather than using a generic model.

For manufacturers and logistics companies, the immediate chance lies in spotting repetitive handling tasks where current automation comes up short. Quality inspection stations, operations that assemble kits of items, and small-batch assembly lines represent situations where Rho-alpha’s mix of language understanding and touch sensing could cut down on programming requirements.

The early access program Microsoft announced gives organizations a way to test whether the system fits their needs before investing in deployment infrastructure. Companies should enter these evaluations expecting that human supervision will be necessary and should plan for workflows where operators correct and guide the robots through initial learning periods.

Physical AI represents a shift from robots as programmed tools to robots as flexible collaborators. That shift will take years rather than months, but the foundation models coming from Microsoft, Nvidia, and Google establish the basic patterns that will define enterprise robotics for the next ten years.

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Solana’s growth has been marred by uncertainty as major companies reduce their holdings. This has brought about a level of doubt in investors’ minds, especially those interested in DeFi gains. On the other hand, Mutuum Finance (MUTM) provides a clear and timely opportunity for investors. The current presale provides investors with a chance to access a complete lending protocol prior to the public launch. In this regard, investors consider MUTM as the best crypto to buy now in pursuit of actual DeFi gains from a working protocol rather than speculation. 

Solana’s Growth Faces Uncertainty

Solana’s crypto price has shown a lot of volatility. Although it has managed to recover from some of the lowest points, it still has a lot of uncertainty. In addition, a top investment company has been selling Solana. This has brought about a level of doubt in investors’ minds. In some instances, Solana has been plagued by outages. These are some of the challenges that make it difficult to attain DeFi gains. In light of this, investors consider another token as the best crypto to buy now, which has a working and audited product, a clear reward system, and a live product.

The Mutuum Presale: A Final Chance For Maximum Entry

Mutuum Finance is in Phase 7 of the presale, which is currently at $0.04. This phase is selling fast. In no time, the price will move to $0.045. This way, the biggest presale gains go to investors who buy the earliest. The project has managed to accumulate over $20,250,000 from more than 18,930 holders, showing the high level of confidence in the project. 

The Mutuum Finance V1 protocol is already working on the Sepolia testnet. This shows that the DeFi protocol is more than just a presale and promises. Investing in the best crypto to invest in at an early stage is a powerful move. For instance, a $1,000 investment in the crypto now can result in 10x gains in the near future. In light of this, MUTM qualifies as the best crypto to buy now.

The Reserve Factor

One of the important aspects for achieving long-term gains in DeFi is safety. The Mutuum Finance protocol offers a safety net through the Reserve Factor. A portion of the interest earned is kept in a reserve account. In case of a volatile market, the reserve account acts as a safety net for the lenders. For example, if you are earning 12% APY on a $5,000 deposit, the reserve account will ensure that you receive the full $600 reward even during periods of market volatility.

Live Protocol Built for Real Yield

The Mutuum Finance protocol is not a promise of future performance. Version 1 of the protocol is fully live on the Sepolia testnet. This means that you can interact with the protocol right now. The platform has the complete lending and borrowing features for the top assets such as ETH, USDT, LINK, and WBTC. This is a critical factor for an investor. It shows that the team has delivered a product that works. Interacting with the testnet is a great way for you to experience the potential of the DeFi gains that the platform has to offer.

Bug Bounty Reward

Mutuum Finance also has a $50,000 bug bounty program in partnership with Certik. The program rewards experts and the public to identify potential vulnerabilities within the MUTM token smart contract. These rewards vary depending on the seriousness of the vulnerability, including up to $2,000 for critical bugs and $200 for less critical ones.

Other rewards include a $100,000 giveaway that will award $10,000 to 10 presale participants and an ongoing $500 MUTM bonus to the biggest MUTM buyer at the end of every day, resetting at 00:00 UTC. 

Why MUTM Delivers Superior DeFi Gains

Mutuum Finance offers the complete package when it comes to DeFi gains. The presale offers the advantage of a low entry point with great growth potential. The Reserve Factor ensures the security of your passive income, and the Bug Bounty Program ensures the longevity of the platform. When you consider the uncertainty that currently exists with the Solana platform, MUTM offers a clear and calculated entry. With the working product and reward system in place, Mutuum Finance stands out as the best crypto to invest in for DeFi gains.

For more information about Mutuum Finance (MUTM) visit the links below:

Website: https://mutuum.com/ 
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is now seriously warried about the impact of the weaker U.S. dollar on his country’s export-oriented economy.

The head of the federal government also urges for the rapid launch of the digital euro which, in his view, should reduce Europe’s dependence on America’s fiat.

Germany’s Merz warns of weak dollar effects on German business

The leader of the executive power in Berlin, Friedrich Merz, has joined voices warning about the negative impact of the depreciating dollar on the Bundesrepublik’s economy.

Speaking at a press briefing ahead of a meeting with his coalition partners in the German capital on Wednesday, the Chancellor stated, quoted by Reuters:

“I have watched the dollar rate with concern, for some time. The dollar course is a considerable extra burden for the German export economy.”

Among those expressing “great concerns” regarding the steep decline of the Greenback against other major currencies, is the head of the Federation of German Wholesale, Foreign Trade and Services (BGA).

“A strong euro makes German products more expensive on world markets and makes competitivity problems more severe,” Dirk Jandura told the news agency, elaborating:

“Especially for mid-sized exporters with narrow margins, it’s a serious risk because they often can’t dampen exchange risks.”

Germany’s economy, which is heavily reliant on exports, has faced significant challenges over the past few years. It barely started to grow in 2025 after hovering in recession territory for the previous two years.

German exporters have been dealing with stiffening competition from Chinese companies, while taking a hit from the euro rise against the dollar. The latter has dropped to a four-year low amid growing global economic and geopolitical uncertainty.

In early January, the BGA revealed Germany’s exports to both the People’s Republic and the United States have fallen sharply in 2025, by 10% and 7% respectively, as reported by Cryptopolitan. The German economy also stalled at the start of the new year.

Meanwhile, European concerns over the dollar’s rate are obviously not shared by the current administration across the Atlantic, with President Donald Trump describing the value of the American currency as “great.” A dollar buys less than 0.84 euro at the time of writing.

U.S. dollar to euro exchange rate. Source: Google Finance.

Merz convinced digital euro will solve the issue with dollar dependence

Friedrich Merz’s comments were also relayed by German crypto media, which highlighted the Chancellor’s statements on the digitalization of the eurozone’s single currency.

“The significant fall in the price of the U.S. dollar is causing unrest in the federal government,” BTC Echo noted in a report on Friday, informing readers about his concerns.

According to Merz, the solution to the problem with the weak dollar lies in the digital euro, the publication pointed out in an article looking for answers explaining his position.

Indeed, the head of the cabinet in Berlin and his Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil both called for reaching a swift agreement over the establishment of a digital euro.

The German officials believe the digital incarnation of the common European fiat will help consolidate its position in global markets. Quoted again by Reuters, Merz insisted:

“We want to push for the euro to be accepted as a leading currency in the world next to the dollar. That would also reduce our dependence on the dollar rate.”

Europe and its economic powerhouse have been trying to emancipate themselves from the American ally in more than one context and sense.

A top German representative in the European Parliament, the chair its defense committee, recently urged Berlin to repatriate over 1,200 tons of gold, which the Bundesbank currently keeps in vaults of the Federal Reserve in New York, citing the United States’ “unpredictable” behavior under Trump.

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White-collar crime convict Sam Bankman-Fried is trying to convince the internet that he has been a GOP supporter since the Biden administration. The holder of the former FTX chief’s X account wrote a thread late Thursday, in which he explained the reasons for backing Republicans in 2022. 

Before the fall of FTX in late 2022, Bankman-Fried attended a dinner in Washington’s Wharf district. He met Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell during a fundraising period ahead of the midterm elections. 

McConnell was seeking financial support as Republicans fought for Senate control, and Bankman-Fried supposedly wanted to expand his influence as the US Securities and Exchange Commission was breathing down his neck. 

1) Why I became a Republican in 2022. pic.twitter.com/otNVWmzvya

— SBF (@SBF_FTX) January 30, 2026

In August, he reportedly sent $10 million to a McConnell-aligned political group named One Nation. Although the payment was not publicly disclosed at the time, it may be the largest single Republican-directed donation from an FTX executive. 

He later told crypto creator Tiffany Fong that “all his Republican donations were dark” because “reporters freak the fuck out if you donate to a Republican” and that he “didn’t want to have that fight” with “super liberal” journalists.

“I grew up in a liberal household and gave five million to Dems in 2020. In 2022, I gave tens of millions to Republicans,” the former beleaguered exchange CEO wrote on X.

SBF blames regulators and justice officials for 25-year jail term

On social platform GETTR, Bankman-Fried told the public that he moved from center-left to centrist views earlier in the year of FTX’s collapse. He mentioned that a “high-ranking” Democratic official at a conference said his priority was the employment of people with intellectual disabilities in all state agencies. That was supposedly the first reason he gave for taking his donations to the GOP.

6) Insane Dem woke policies.

I was at a conference once. A high-profile Dem said his biggest priority was employing people with intellectual disabilities at every state agency. pic.twitter.com/jkAf91N6VE

— SBF (@SBF_FTX) January 30, 2026

Bankman-Fried also bashed the actions by regulators under former President Joe Biden, arguing that federal agencies were “unfair and aggressive” on the crypto industry during Biden’s tenure.

“I was a centrist, and privately donated tens of millions to Republicans. Weeks later, Biden’s anti-crypto SEC/DOJ went after me. They had me arrested weeks before the crypto bill I was working on was set for a vote. And the night before, I was set to testify before Congress. Biden bungled crypto. He didn’t have to; plenty at the party had reasonable thoughts! But he chose Gensler for SEC chair,” the former billionaire asserted.

He also said his case was similar to that of businessman Miles Guo, alleging that the SEC, SDNY, and bankruptcy system were “weaponized to take over Guo’s companies and put him behind bars.” 

Is SBF planning for a political comeback?

According to court filings released after Bankman-Fried’s conviction, the former CEO had been drafting ideas from jail to “rebrand his image.” In a personal Google document, he wrote one entry that read, “Go on Tucker Carlsen, come out as a republican.”

He also planned to criticize legal professionals handling bankruptcy cases, which is likely an effort to show he was targeted by the legal establishment. He intended to argue that public donation records told only part of the story.

“I had a good relationship, probably better with Republicans in DC, as with Democrats, by that point in time. Although that wasn’t public. It wouldn’t have been easy to see that from the outside.” 

Last year, the New York Intelligencer revealed a document displaying Bankman-Fried’s strategy to distance himself from Democrats. It described his plan to say public records were different from which political party he was supporting and oppose what he called a “liberal progressive agenda.”

Bankman-Fried also expressed support for President Donald Trump, writing that the POTUS was “right for crypto.” Trump has granted clemency to several white-collar crime defendants he viewed as over-prosecuted. 

Last year, the US President pardoned Binance founder Changpeng Zhao and dark web crypto marketplace Silk Road developer Ross Ulbricht. Despite those pardons, Trump told The New York Times he does not plan to pardon Bankman-Fried.

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Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, says it plans to convert the SAFU Fund’s $1 billion stablecoin reserves into Bitcoin over the next 30 days. 

The decision, communicated in an open letter to the crypto community. The platform highlighted that it sees Bitcoin as a core part of the crypto ecosystem and values its long-term prospects, stating that it is ready to navigate market uncertainty and support the asset’s growth.

Binance said it will monitor the SAFU Fund and Bitcoin in case of value decline

Binance’s Secure Asset Fund for Users (SAFU), created in 2018 to shield users from extreme events, is moving away from stablecoins and into Bitcoin, demonstrating the company’s broader trust in crypto as an asset.

The exchange asserted that in the future, it will monitor the SAFU Fund and, if Bitcoin volatility pushes its value below $800 million, it will replenish it with Bitcoin to bring it back to $1 billion. It stated, “This initiative is part of Binance’s long-term commitment to the industry, and we will continue to advance related work and gradually share more progress with the community.”

Additionally, it asserted that moving forward, it will respond to market challenges while promoting industry growth, guided by principles of transparency, openness, and long-term commitment. 

It also noted that crypto platforms globally are under greater pressure to manage risks, govern effectively, and act responsibly. It also listed some of its achievements in risk control, compliance, and ecosystem development last year, including the recovery of 38,648 misdeposited assets totaling US$48 million. The company also helped millions—5.4 million users—detect risks and prevent nearly $6.69 billion in fraud-related losses.

Moreover, it collaborated with global authorities to fight illicit activity involving approximately $131 million. Furthermore, as of late 2025, the platform had verified around $162.8 billion in user assets through its Proof of Reserves, covering 45 asset classes.

Ripple CEO believes Binance could return to the US market

Recently, Ripple’s CEO suggested that Binance would return to the U.S. market soon. Binance left the U.S. market in 2023 following a settlement in which former CEO Changpeng Zhao pleaded guilty to criminal charges tied to lapses in anti–money laundering controls, as part of a $4.3 billion deal with the DOJ.

Nonetheless, Zhao’s pardon by President Donald Trump last October has since sparked speculation that the company might be planning a comeback to the U.S. market. Speaking to reporters, Binance co-CEO Richard Teng also said the exchange is adopting a cautious “wait-and-see” strategy on reentering the U.S., calling it a key marketplace.

Not long after, Garlinghouse said that he expects Binance to return, emphasizing that the U.S. is a large market and that Binance was once an important player there. He said, “I think they’ll come back because they’re a capitalistic, innovative company that wants to solve … larger markets and continue to grow.” 

He further argued that a Binance comeback would intensify competition and help draw more users into the space. He noted, “I think it will actually have the positive impact of bringing more people into the market, in part because it’ll reduce pricing. Today their [Binance] pricing is lower on a global basis than what we see here in the U.S.”

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On January 29, Nu Holdings, a digital financial services platform, announced that it received conditional approval from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to form a new national bank in the U.S. The new U.S. national bank will operate under the name Nubank, NA.

Factually, Nu Holdings filed its application with the OCC on September 30 of last year.

According to the announcement, Nu is now in a bank organization phase, a stage that requires the corporation to meet specific standards set by the OCC, as well as to secure pending approval from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Federal Reserve.

During this phase, the financial services firm announced it will aim to fully capitalize the institution within 12 months and launch the bank within 18 months, as needed by authorities.

Nu Holdings advances U.S. expansion with conditional bank approval

Nu stated that the conditional approval marks a significant milestone in the company’s long-term plan to increase its operating footprint and product line in the U.S. Following full approval, the financial services platform stated that the national bank license will enable it to function within a fully regulated government framework, allowing the introduction of credit cards, deposit accounts, loans, and digital asset custody.

Cristina Junqueira, a co-founder of Nu who moved to the U.S. to lead the bank’s long-term development and expansion, will be in charge of the U.S. organization. Roberto Campos Neto, former president of the Central Bank of Brazil, will serve as Chairman of the Board.

Junqueira commented regarding this conditional bank approval. She said that obtaining federal approval for a national bank license is a significant step toward the company’s goal of becoming a regulated, strong, and competitive institution in the U.S.

Junqueira also revealed that the company is eager to provide prospective American clients with clear, compelling financial experiences.

“This approval is not just an expansion of our operations; it’s an opportunity to prove our thesis that a digital, customer-centric model is the future of financial services globally.”

–David Vélez, founder and CEO of Nu Holdings.

Vélez went on to say that this step will allow the company to establish the next generation of banking services in the U.S., while remaining entirely focused on its core markets in Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia.

Nu Holdings also highlighted that navigating the U.S. regulatory process is a key component of its previously disclosed plan to create strategic hubs in Miami, the San Francisco Bay Area, Northern Virginia, and the Research Triangle of North Carolina.

Nu Holdings strengthens global presence through regulatory milestones

The conditional approval to form a national bank in the U.S. strengthens Nu’s track record of meeting regulatory requirements across several nations. In April of last year, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) reported that the National Banking and Securities Commission (CNBV) authorized Nu’s subsidiary, Nu Mexico, to become a banking institution.

Following CNBV approval, Nu Mexico became the first Popular Financial Society (SOFIPO) to obtain authorization to change into a bank. This approval also brought the company closer to expanding its product portfolio, including the introduction of a payroll account. However, as of January 29, Nu Mexico is still seeking final operational certification.

In Brazil, the financial services firm has functioned as a fully regulated financial institution since 2016. On December 2 of last year, the digital platform announced its intention to acquire a banking license in Brazil.

Nu Holdings mentioned that the inclusion of a banking institution in the conglomerate is consistent with Joint Resolution No. 17, issued by the National Monetary Council and the Central Bank of Brazil. This resolution standardizes the use of brand names by regulated institutions. As a result of this move, Nubank will completely integrate into Brazil’s regulated banking system while maintaining its brand and visual identity.

Notably, Nubank has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange since 2021 under the symbol NU.

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A lot of traders used to believe that big altcoins such as Ripple (XRP) were a sure investment of future wealth. Nevertheless, recent facts indicate that there is a significant change in the flow of money in the crypto world. Some of the top cryptocurrencies are also struggling to maintain their value, whereas others are experiencing huge gains due to the fact that they provide new money utilization methods. This transformation is leading to a rethinking of the plans of many people as far as the next year is concerned.

Ripple (XRP) 

Ripple (XRP) is now trading at about $1.80 and this is a very big deviation as compared to its recent highs. Many predicted the coin to skyrocket after a protracted legal wrangle with the SEC came to an end in 2025. It did experience a rapid rise to a high of $3.65 with the people celebrating the court victory. But this excitement was soon over. The market cap of XRP has reduced approximately by 50% within the past 6 months. 

The future of the XRP in 2026 and 2027 is now looking very bad. Some of the analysts even say that the price may decline to approximately $1.00 by the year-end. The issue is that most banks do not necessarily have to utilize the XRP token to access the payment system at Ripple. This is causing investors to be concerned that even the token itself may lack demand. The price is highly stressful without any new motivations to purchase and hold XRP.

Mutuum Finance (MUTM)

As Ripple suffers, everyone is looking at a new cheap crypto Mutuum Finance (MUTM). This project is still going through its presale period and is only costing $0.04. It has already raised a value of above $20.1 million USD and holds a total of above 19,000 investors. 

Mutuum Finance is developing a decentralized hub for lending and borrowing that allows individuals to access liquidity without being forced to sell their core digital holdings. This architecture is centered on a dual-market system to support a wide variety of assets and risk profiles.

In the Peer-to-Contract (P2C) market, users contribute assets like ETH or USDT into shared liquidity pools, where interest rates adjust dynamically based on the supply and demand of the protocol. 

The Peer-to-Peer (P2P) market provides a more flexible alternative for niche or higher-volatility assets that may not fit into the standard liquidity pools. This environment allows lenders and borrowers to negotiate their own custom terms directly, including specific interest rates and loan durations. 

The Reason Why Investors are Shifting Their Funds

Investing in XRP to MUTM is like the investors are shifting their funds to a utility that is actual. XRP has demonstrated its weaknesses in the recent past. It also heavily depends on the features of the old partnership and old news as opposed to the new features. That is the reason behind its reduction of half of market cap within the past 180 days. 

On the other hand, Mutuum Finance has just released its V1 protocol. This translates to the fact that the technology is already on the work and individuals can test it immediately.

The V1 protocol has Liquidity Pools in which you can deposit assets such as ETH, USDT, LINK and WBTC. It is also based on the use of mtTokens that are similar to interest-bearing receipts that increase in value as time passes by. 

Debt Tokens are also used to track loans and a Liquidator Bot is used to ensure the entire system is safe. These instruments demonstrate that Mutuum Finance is prepared for the future of finance.

Price Prediction Contrast

The outlook of the price of these two altcoins is quite dissimilar. XRP may continue to fall below the level of $1.80, but analysts are optimistic about MUTM. The official price of MUTM is fixed at $0.06 that is already 50% up from the current price. Certain analysts are optimistic that MUTM may be priced at $0.15-$0.30 by the year 2026. This would translate to 10x-20x MUTM appreciation as long as the protocol follows the roadmap and analysts expectations.

Safety is another significant factor that makes people have more trust in MUTM. The project has already undergone a complete security check by Halborn Security. It is one of the best companies that ensure that the code is secure against hackers. 

Mutuum Finance is a potential best crypto opportunity to investors who are fed up with losing money in stagnanting cryptocurrencies. It has a working v1 beta protocol, great audits, and a good growth strategy, which is why it is fast being picked as a top crypto choice in 2026 by many investors.

For more information about Mutuum Finance (MUTM) visit the links below:

Website: https://www.mutuum.com
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance

The cryptocurrency sector has come a long way since its inception over a decade ago. Despite adoption taking place, the passage towards gaining crypto exposure remains harder than it should be for everyday users. Centralized exchanges have played a major role in onboarding millions by offering an easier to understand user experience but this often comes with trade-offs. Lengthy account setups, fragmented access across networks and custody structures that requires the end user to hand over control of their private keys. For complete newcomers, this can feel overwhelming. 

At the same time, the broader web3 ecosystem has grown to become increasingly multi-chain which, in turn, has created new challenges around asset management. Swapping between networks, investing in new tokens or moving funds around quickly requires users to handle several wallets, bridges and multiple platforms. Without proper due diligence and safeguards, this in itself can carry separate risks. As a result, platforms like ChangeNOW that address the gap between crypto’s ethos of self custody and everyday usability is gaining traction among many users. 

What is ChangeNOW? 

Established in 2017 with over 8 million users globally, ChangeNOW is a non-custodial crypto management platform that offers simple and transparent instant crypto swaps and services. By design, the platform allows users to retain complete control over their assets and private keys as no funds are stored on the platform itself. The onboarding process is another key point here. Unlike many centralized crypto platforms that require lengthy onboarding journeys, ChangeNOW abstracts this complexity by offering an account free experience. This means users can simply access the platform, send their assets to a unique address and receive the swapped asset in return to their self custodial wallet. 

Notably, ChangeNOW is no longer just an instant crypto swap platform. It has branched out into a fully fledged web3 ecosystem supporting fiat on and off ramps, crypto loan services and a wider toolkit approach that caters to both retail users and businesses building on top of crypto rails. On the enterprise side, the platform now offers white-label wallet infrastructure, Warm Wallets for more secure yet operational fund management and a Market Info API that gives real time pricing and market rates. This shows a big shift in the platform from a single consumer facing product to a variety of services that enable a broader B2B stack. 

From a consumer facing perspective, ChangeNOW’s simple interface and crypto native philosophy makes it ideal for a combination of users. First and foremost, those entering crypto for the very first time will find the instant swap feature without any sort of complex order types and books easy to grasp. That said, a base understanding of how crypto wallets work is a must for this cohort. 

At the same time, seasoned crypto users or traders who value privacy with limited data collection and those who prioritize self-custody will appreciate the ease of this platform. Lastly, users with an array of digital assets spanning across various networks will find the platform’s cross chain swaps particularly useful. 

Key Features Explained 

Massive Asset & Network Coverage

Apart from it being a non-custodial platform, the ChangeNOW exchange currently supports over 1500 digital assets across 110+ blockchains. Given the large number of tokens available, users have access to leading cryptocurrencies across several sectors such as L1/L2’s, DeFi, AI, GameFi, RWA, DePIN, Privacy Coins and memecoins. 

Cross-chain Swaps Made Simple

One of the more practical challenges in today’s multi-chain crypto environment is moving value across different blockchains efficiently. In many cases, this requires users to interact with third-party bridges, manage multiple transactions, and remain exposed to additional smart-contract and execution risks. For non-custodial users in particular, this process can be both time-consuming and error-prone. 

ChangeNOW simplifies this workflow by enabling cross-chain swaps in a single, continuous flow. Instead of manually bridging assets or coordinating multiple steps, users select the asset they want to exchange, choose the destination asset and network, and provide the receiving wallet address. ChangeNOW’s underlying routing and liquidity integrations then handle the intermediate steps automatically, reducing complexity while keeping the user in control of their funds throughout the process.

Weekly New Listings

New projects and tokens enter the crypto ecosystem on a continuous basis. While many don’t pass the stress test with competition across sectors ramping up, some early-stage tokens can bring upside opportunities. Recognizing this, ChangeNOW regularly updates its supported asset catalog. This is done after evaluating and adding tokens that meet technical and liquidity criteria. This way, users can gain access to emerging projects alongside established tokens. 

Speed, Rates and Reliability 

Speed, transparent rates and platform reliability are central to the ChangeNOW user experience. When it comes to speed, the average time it takes to complete a swap is between 1-2 minutes. Adding to this, the fees and the estimated rates are clearly mentioned on the terminal before any swaps are initiated. According to available platform data, roughly 98 % of transactions succeed at rates that either match or deviate by less than 0.5 % from the estimated quote, and over half of users receive outcomes that are better than the initial estimate. 

The entry barrier is also extremely low. Users can swap assets from as low as $2 and no upper limits on transaction size. 

This combination of speed, upfront pricing, and high success rates underpins ChangeNOW’s reliability for everyday swaps, helping users execute transactions confidently without needing to monitor complex order books or worry about hidden fees. 

User Experience and Interface 

ChangeNOW is available across multiple touchpoints including web, IOS and Android and even a telegram bot. This versatility enables users to swap, buy and sell crypto from their preferred interface, whether that’s a desktop app, mobile device or a chat app. 

Another thoughtful UX feature is the permanent swap address. This feature allows users to send assets to the same deposit address each time which reduces the chances of any errors when copying and pasting different addresses for repeated transactions. 

Fiat On-Ramps and Global Access

Apart from the instant swapping functionality of the platform, ChangeNOW is known for its extensive and reliable On-ramp support. For many users across the globe, exchanging local fiat currency to buy cryptocurrencies can often be a friction point due to limited payment options or regional restrictions. 

ChangeNOW addresses this hurdle by aggregating trusted fiat on and off ramp partners directly into its interface. These include the likes of industry leading web3 payments infra providers like Transak, Simplex and Guardarian. 

Currently, ChangeNOW supports buying and selling crypto 70+ fiat currencies and payment methods include familiar options via Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, Google Pay, SEPA, ACH, Pix and Revolut. 

Customer Support and Trust Signals 

Trust and reliable support are critical levers to keep in mind when choosing a cryptocurrency platform. These factors become even more crucial in a non-custodial environment where initiated transactions are irreversible. Keeping this in mind, ChangeNOW offers 27/7 live support to help users resolve issues ranging from delayed transactions to more complex swap related questions. For users initiating their first few crypto transactions, this level of support adds an important layer of reassurance. 

This reputation of solid customer assistance is highlighted by the positive user feedback. The platform has an average rating of around 4.5 out of 5 on Trustpilot, based on more than 13,000 user reviews, with many highlighting quick responses, clear communication, and effective issue resolution. 

ChangeNOW Pro: For Power Users 

The ChangeNOW exchange is a great platform for its simplicity and accessibility for everyday users. ChangeNOW Pro builds on this foundation by offering a host of enhancements specifically meant for more frequent traders and pro users. One of the core benefits here is that users can earn cashback on swaps, starting at around 0.1% of the transaction value and enjoy reduced exchange fees compared to the standard exchange. This effectively helps more active users get additional value from their regular trades. 

Pro users also have access to advanced tools that go beyond basic swap history. This includes detailed transaction records with Anti-Money Laundering (AML) address checks. This helps users screen wallet addresses for risk, adding another layer of security and peace of mind. 

In addition to these features, pro users can utilize unlimited crypto loans. This means high frequency or volume traders can unlock liquidity from their holdings without having to sell their assets. It’s important to note that these pro features are completely optional upgrades. Account free basic swaps remain open to all users. 

Pros & Cons

Pros

Non-custodial control

Extremely wide asset coverage

Fast swaps with high success rate

Transparent pricing

Account-free experience

Strong reputation & partnerships

Cons

Not a trading terminal (no order books)

Fixed-rate swaps may cost slightly more in volatile markets

Advanced perks require Pro subscription

Final Verdict 

Having been in the web3 ecosystem for nine years, ChangeNOW is a mature, reliable and simple entry point for those looking to participate in the crypto space. Over the years, the ChangeNOW exchange has evolved from a swapping service to an end-to-end crypto management platform with a priority on self-custody, wide asset support, transparent pricing and always-on customer support. As on-chain usage continues its upward trajectory and more users get accustomed to managing wallets, ChangeNOW offers a practical alternative to traditional centralized exchanges. 

March 2013 nearly broke Cyprus apart. Banks suddenly shut down, cash machines froze solid, while people found themselves locked out of their own accounts. Big deposits took a sudden hit, and funds were slashed without delay. Trust did not erode quietly. Instead, it shattered completely at that moment.

Out of nowhere, banks in Cyprus began struggling. Cash stopped moving as it once had. Restrictions appeared quickly, transfers were delayed, funds got stuck, and paperwork piled up. Sending money overseas became uncommon. What once felt manageable now dragged on without end. Firms found it hard to follow through on their promises.

The shock hit hard when people realized that bank money could disappear without warning. Digital tokens started making sense to more than a few, simply because of that fear. Time moved on, perspectives shifted slowly, until what had once seemed odd now looked like an option.

Change arrived in Cyprus once crypto use grew. Owning your keys felt right; meanwhile, moving funds without paperwork proved smooth. Over time, local regulations on digital cash began to take shape, quietly aligning the island with Europe’s main crypto hubs and preparing it for the implementation of MiCA Cyprus standards. That shift sparked talk of turning the island into a global Cyprus Web3 hub.

The 2012-2013 Cyprus Banking Crisis Crypto Narrative: A Shock to Depositor Confidence

Trouble started piling up in Cyprus well before 2012. The island’s banks owned large chunks of Greek government debt while also pouring money into loans to Greek companies and state ventures. Once Greece altered how it would pay back what it owed, chaos moved quickly. The fallout jumped nations, striking Cypriot lenders without warning.

A bank called Laiki ceased to exist. The Bank of Cyprus stood its ground, though its customers paid the price. If someone had over €100,000 saved, nearly half vanished from their account. That cash did not vanish into thin air. Instead, it became stock, suddenly making everyday customers part-owners of a troubled bank, whether they wanted to be or not. Getting cash meant dealing with the capital controls Cyprus enforced and needing a green light for overseas transfers. That needed a green light first. Companies froze, stuck without payments to vendors. Frozen by doubt, families stood in line at cash machines. Month after month, securing funds meant waiting for approval.

Something shifted for the EU right then. People saw that cash sitting in banks might as well have been miles away. Just because numbers showed up didn’t mean they could access them.

Without fanfare or quick wins, people began thinking differently, and this mindset steered the early stages of crypto adoption that Cyprus witnessed. It also nudged the island toward Europe’s growing Web3 scene. Into that space, MiCA eventually settled.

Capital Controls Cyprus as a Catalyst for Alternative Finance

Still feeling the hit long after Cyprus bailed itself out, the grip tightened slowly, almost unnoticed. Rules about money seeped into regular life. Getting cash meant working within set amounts every time. Sending money out required a green light from someone official. Swiping cards past borders now costs extra, that is,  if it worked at all.

Then came stress, sudden and sharp. Bills piled up for companies that relied on imports. Workers waited longer for paychecks. Contracts froze, buyers ready, sellers too, yet nothing moved forward. People still believed in each other. The need remained strong. Approval just stopped moving through the channels. People who lived overseas ran into similar problems. Money made beyond Cyprus often failed to reach its destination. Transfers crawled through delays, sometimes vanishing without a trace. This pattern set the pace of existence.

Banks froze when decisions shifted. For years, Cyprus welcomed foreign funds, then conditions tightened without warning. Funds locked in place. Withdrawals stopped dead. Confidence slipped slowly, like water through fingers.

Frozen accounts made people look elsewhere. It wasn’t flashy, just reliable when traditional systems stalled. Money sat still in banks, yet flowed easily through crypto. Permission? Never needed. Waiting? Didn’t happen. Power remained where it began – with the person using it.

Something was missing before crypto came along. Control shifted when people started managing their own funds; it just worked. Even after limits disappeared, the lesson held on. That shift influenced Cyprus’s path with digital assets and its move into Web3. MiCA arrived later, fitting right in without surprise.

Early Crypto Curiosity → Practical Adoption (2013- 2016)

From 2013 to 2016, cryptocurrency quietly reached Cyprus. It spread without announcements, driven by people trying to solve practical problems, one small step at a time.

When banks closed, everyday tasks became difficult. Cash was restricted. Transfers slowed or failed. Profits didn’t matter anymore. People just wanted to know whether payments would go through. Delays that once felt routine began to feel intentional. That frustration drove the crypto adoption Cyprus saw long before price speculation entered the picture.

While digital money was still unfamiliar across Europe, Cyprus moved early, informal meetups formed in cafés and shared offices. Coders compared notes. Business owners listened. These loose groups focused on storage, key management, and early trading tools. It wasn’t refined, but it worked.

Universities helped anchor the shift. When the University of Nicosia accepted Bitcoin for tuition in 2013 (being the first university globally to do so), crypto felt legitimate. Courses followed, and for those already using it out of necessity, that support mattered.

Cyprus’s background in online trading filled the gaps. Skills transferred. Systems adapted. Early exchanges appeared. Memories of bank failures lingered, keeping skepticism alive, but utility-guided decisions. Over time, structure formed, activity grew, and the island naturally evolved into a specialized Cyprus Web3 hub.

Regulation Without Hostility: Cyprus’ Strategic Middle Ground

When cryptocurrency began gaining traction, Cyprus faced a decision, one heavily colored by recent events at home. Fresh memories of the financial crash lingered, making people cautious; confidence remained fragile. A rash step might’ve shaken things further. Being part of the European Union meant rules limited their options. Spontaneity wasn’t possible, nor were quick fixes. That structure, though limiting, ended up helping.

Starting slowly, officials leaned on old frameworks rather than drafting new ones. The framework of Cyprus crypto regulation took shape by sticking to current statutes while promoting the advancement of blockchain technology. Alerts went out; requirements gradually came into focus. When ventures followed finance-wide benchmarks, access remained open. Experimentation found space, though limits stayed firm.

That equilibrium stood firm. Not pushing itself as an escape hatch, Cyprus also avoided painting crypto as a threat to be crushed. Fresh from enduring capital restrictions, its outlook on danger carried weight – careful, yes, yet never hostile. Hesitation lingered, though never hardened into refusal.

Slowly, trust in cryptocurrency grew in Cyprus. Clear rules gave founders confidence to build. Companies gradually adapted their services. Stability began shaping a real community online. This space earned respect across Europe’s digital finance centers. When new EU rules came through, they fit naturally into what was already there.

The Web3 Influx: Startups, Talent, and Capital (2017-2022)

By 2017, crypto in Cyprus felt different. It was no longer a side experiment. Companies formed. Capital arrived in measured waves. Teams looked for a stable footing inside the EU, somewhere predictable. Cyprus quietly became a preferred Cyprus Web3 hub for startups seeking stability.

ICOs reshaped how startups launched. Firms wanted jurisdictions where setting up was simple and issuing tokens felt legally clear, a goal reflected in the global crypto hub bill. Cyprus stood out for familiar laws, English-speaking professionals, and steady rules. There was no hype. Reliability became the draw. Planning was easier when surprises were rare.

Being in the EU mattered. From Cyprus, companies could operate across the continent, competing effectively with other major EU crypto hubs. Lower taxes eased costs as teams grew. The balance attracted businesses seeking stability without pressure.

Elsewhere, Malta moved fast and grabbed attention. Estonia tightened controls after rapid growth. Portugal worked well for individuals but proved harder for firms. While other EU crypto hubs moved faster, Cyprus took slower steps, focused on execution.

Experienced lawyers, accountants, and compliance teams anchored the shift, providing deep insight into the fintech landscape in Cyprus. Many came from trading or banking and understood financial systems. With their support, curiosity turned into real operations, giving Cyprus a lasting foothold in Europe’s Web3 landscape.

MiCA and the Maturation Phase (2023-Present)

When MiCA took effect, Cyprus was already adjusting. The shift hadn’t been sudden. Years of gradual change came first. MiCA mainly removed guesswork across Europe, setting clearer expectations. What felt abrupt elsewhere unfolded more smoothly here.

That wasn’t accidental. Regulators had long overseen high-risk finance, ensuring the regulatory landscape of Cyprus was consistent and audit-ready. Crypto rules had quietly aligned with what MiCA later required, so when MiCA Cyprus compliance became mandatory, work simply continued under a shared structure.

As the space matured, focus changed. Short-term efforts faded. Infrastructure mattered more. Custody and compliance took center stage. Growth continued without chasing attention. Stability became the priority, supported by rules that didn’t keep shifting. Cyprus met that need without overpromising.

The Web3 scene grew quietly. Some firms adapted and stayed. Others arrived, looking for an EU base where MiCA meant routine work, not disruption. Across the island, crypto became more structured and forward-looking. MiCA didn’t create that shift. It organized what was already there.

Why Cyprus Still Attracts Web3 Teams Today

Cyprus still attracts Web3 teams for practical reasons. Not promises, but how the pieces fit together without strain. Those quiet advantages continue to draw builders.

EU membership matters most. A license in Cyprus opens access across the region, creating significant crypto market opportunities for regulated firms. That simplicity helps teams stay focused on building and hiring.

Costs follow. Compared to places like London or Berlin, operations are easier to manage. Rent is lower. Salaries are more reachable. Legal and compliance support doesn’t drain resources. Over time, those savings support steady progress.

Predictability keeps teams grounded. Progressive Cyprus crypto regulation allows planning without guesswork. Oversight exists, but sudden changes are rare. For long-term builders, that consistency matters more than incentives.

Memories of restricted bank access still shape attitudes. They make self-custody feel familiar rather than extreme. That history, combined with smooth integration, explains the appeal. Not big visions, just a place where Web3 works within everyday reality.

Limitations & Risks: Why Cyprus Isn’t a Silver Bullet

Cyprus has real strengths, but it also has limits. Those limits matter more as teams grow and plans move past the early stage.

A small domestic market

Small size defines Cyprus. A few people live there, which naturally limits how much locals can consume. Builders in the Web3 space rarely aim at homegrown markets. Their eyes stay fixed on broader audiences across Europe or worldwide.

That setup works, but it changes how teams plan from the start. Testing big product rollouts fails when only the locals are involved, and hiring locally works best for certain roles rather than entire teams.  As companies grow, expansion almost always depends on expanding internationally, which requires greater coordination and higher costs over time.

For early-stage teams, most teams handle this without much trouble. For later-stage companies, it requires a clearer structure, more hiring abroad, and tighter operations. Cyprus works well as a base, but it rarely works as a launch market on its own.

Regulation that moves carefully

Cyprus crypto regulation has been steady, and many teams value that stability. The trade-off is speed. Bigger nations, such as Germany or France, move faster simply because their regulatory offices are larger. More staff means quicker responses, and the island is still trying to catch up.

This doesn’t mean Cyprus blocks activity. It means some areas stay unclear longer than founders might expect. Topics like DeFi, staking, or newer token models can remain in gray zones for long periods, leaving teams to rely on legal advice rather than written guidance.

When fast results matter, waiting seems tough. Some teams find comfort in taking their time. What works hinges on whether getting there quickly matters most or knowing each step is steady.

Banking friction is still real

Banking remains one of the most common pain points, and it hasn’t disappeared. Even compliant crypto companies often struggle to open or keep local bank accounts.

This caution has its roots in the banking crisis and the years that followed. Local banks lowered risk tolerance, and pressure from abroad further tightened standards. That mindset still shapes how banks deal with crypto-related businesses today.

So most Web3 firms in Cyprus end up using overseas payment services or e-money platforms. Things keep moving, yet more layers keep popping up.  Payroll, local expenses, and daily operations take more effort than many teams expect. While Cyprus works well as a strategic fintech gateway at the regulatory level, the banking layer still lags.

Reliance on EU Decisions

Cyprus operates inside the EU framework. That brings access and credibility, but it also limits independence. Major policy changes come from Brussels, not Nicosia.

A good case in point: the transition to MiCA Cyprus standards. Preparation in Cyprus was solid, yet rulemaking wasn’t theirs to decide. Updates on reporting, custody, and even how markets operate – those still arrive from Brussels. Adapting and oversight? That’s within reach. Going ahead independently or picking another route? Not an option.

A different path might seem limiting if you’re after total independence. Yet, some pick Cyprus precisely because it follows Europe’s rules.

Taken together, these limits don’t erase Cyprus’s advantages. They define them.

Cyprus suits teams who regard it as a stable base, not a shortcut. It enables careful expansion, compliance-focused work, and long-term planning. It’s not for teams that require immediate scale, rapid rule changes, or hassle-free local banking from day one. Cyprus is a case study in how financial stress can induce caution without freezing progress. It also shows that no hub removes trade-offs. Teams that realize those limits early tend to make better use of what Cyprus can realistically offer.

Conclusion: Crisis as a Long-Term Adoption Engine

What made the island emerge as a Cyprus Web3 hub wasn’t just ambition. It happened because things unfolded in ways nobody could’ve imagined. When banks collapsed, so did the belief in steady financial safety. That moment rewired people’s thinking about value, exposure, and control. Stability returned later, but the mindset stuck around, quietly guiding choices ever since.

What started in Cyprus wasn’t faith – it was frustration. People knew the sting of frozen accounts, the hollowness when banks fail them. New tools showed up, quiet at first, not shouting promises but solving problems. Trust came later, only after someone tried sending cash without asking permission. Real life has tested everything. Ideas meant nothing if the system crashed when needed most.

Change in Cyprus rarely seemed sudden because of this gradual movement. Instead of vanishing, older ways stayed present. Alongside them emerged new methods that addressed weaknesses revealed under pressure. What took shape was not a clean break, but a shift guided by what people lived through.

Times like these show up elsewhere, too. Slowly, confidence slips away. Controls grow stricter. What was easy before becomes harder. Not many walk away from what they know right when things shift. Instead, they gather alternatives step by step.

Crisis changes people, even when no one is watching. Cyprus proves it.

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