White House to Host Crypto and Banking Summit Amid Stalled Market Structure Bill
The White House is convening executives from the banking and crypto sectors to address key disputes in the stalled CLARITY Act, focusing on stablecoin regulations and yields.
White House intervention: A summit hosted by the administration’s crypto council is set for February 2 to discuss the delayed market structure bill. Core dispute: Regulations on stablecoin yields and rewards, with banks concerned about deposit outflows. Industry hopes: The meeting could pave the way for compromise and advance bipartisan legislation. The White House is taking a…
ERC-8004: Ethereum’s Bid to Create a Secure AI Economy
Ethereum’s new ERC-8004 standard introduces portable identities and reputations for AI agents, fostering trustless interactions and a decentralized AI economy. Ethereum is deploying the ERC-8004 standard on mainnet this week, aimed at enhancing AI agent interactions. The standard enables AI agents to carry portable identities and reputations across chains and organizations without centralized control. This development could accelerate the integration of AI with blockchain, creating new opportunities for decentralized applications. In… Read more: Cryptopress.site/crypto/erc-8004-ethereums-bid-to-create-a-secure-ai-economy/
Moltbot Creator Peter Steinberger Rejects Memecoin Launches, Warns of Impersonation Scams
AI developer Peter Steinberger, behind the viral Moltbot project, publicly disavows cryptocurrency tokens and cautions against scams claiming association with his work amid ongoing harassment.
Peter Steinberger firmly rejects memecoin involvement: The Moltbot creator states he will never launch a token and labels any claiming his ownership as scams.Fake Solana tokens emerge: Impersonation memecoins like $CLAWD surged in value before crashing following his public denial.Harassment damages project: Persistent crypto community outreach hinders development of the open-source AI assistant.Broader industry concern: Case exemplifies reputational risks for non-crypto builders targeted by unsolicited token launches.
Peter Steinberger, the developer behind the rapidly popular open-source AI personal assistant Moltbot—formerly known as Clawdbot—issued a strong public statement on X denouncing harassment from the cryptocurrency community and warning against scam tokens impersonating his project. In his January 27 post, Steinberger addressed “crypto folks” directly: “Please stop pinging me, stop harassing me. I will never do a coin. Any project that lists me as coin owner is a SCAM. No, I will not accept fees. You are actively damaging the project.” The viral AI agent, which recently underwent a rename due to trademark conflicts, has attracted significant attention for its advanced autonomous capabilities. However, the transition provided an opening for opportunistic launches of unauthorized memecoins on Solana-based platforms such as pump.fun. Several tokens falsely tied to Steinberger or his project appeared, with one reaching a multimillion-dollar market capitalization before plummeting after his explicit disavowal. These impersonations exemplify a recurring issue in the memecoin sector, where developers outside crypto are targeted without consent. Steinberger’s frustration highlights a tension in the ecosystem: while memecoins can drive community engagement and liquidity on chains like Solana, aggressive solicitation and fraudulent associations risk alienating innovative builders focused on technology rather than speculation. Reactions within the community varied, with many expressing support for Steinberger and criticizing the tactics that contribute to crypto’s negative perception among mainstream developers. As intersections between AI and blockchain grow, such incidents underscore the challenges of protecting project integrity in decentralized environments. #clawdbotsaysnotoken
The crypto market is currently experiencing heightened volatility, with overall capitalization dipping to around $3 trillion amid broader economic uncertainties. Major assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum have seen significant corrections, driven by macroeconomic factors including potential tariffs and Federal Reserve decisions. While some sectors show resilience through institutional buys, the sentiment remains fearful, as indicated by the Fear & Greed Index at 25/100. This environment presents a mix of risks and potential rebound opportunities as regulatory developments unfold.
Trump Tariff Turmoil
The primary driver this week has been the widespread crypto selloff, fueled by Trump-era tariff turmoil and escalating global risk sentiment. Bitcoin, the market leader, tumbled from above $90,000 to as low as $86,000, triggering over $550 million in liquidations across the ecosystem. This downturn coincides with a U.S. government shutdown risk and anticipation around the Federal Reserve’s rate decision, which could signal a pause in cuts and further pressure risk assets. Ethereum and Solana followed suit, with ETH dropping 5% and SOL 7% in 24 hours, reflecting a broader flight to safety as investors pivot to assets like gold, which hit new highs.
Compounding the selloff, Bitcoin ETFs faced massive outflows of $1.33 billion last week, a stark reversal from prior inflows that had bolstered prices. This cash exodus, amid illusory market depth during “toxic” trading hours, has created a liquidation treadmill where risky positions are hunted, perpetuating the downtrend. Analysts warn that without a dovish Fed pivot or resolution to tariff concerns, the market could face extended consolidation, though historical patterns suggest rebounds following such corrections.
Other news:
Positive
MicroStrategy bolstered its Bitcoin holdings with a $264 million purchase, signaling continued corporate confidence.
Ark Invest scooped up $21.5 million in shares of Coinbase, Circle, and Bullish, betting on long-term crypto infrastructure growth.
Japan’s upcoming crypto ETFs by 2028 could inject $6.4 billion, expanding institutional access.
Metaplanet upwardly revised its FY2026 revenue forecast to over $100 million, driven by Bitcoin-related income.
Neutral
A long-dormant Ethereum whale moved $145 million in ETH, potentially indicating strategic repositioning without clear market impact.
Solana’s ecosystem is pivoting toward finance applications, as stated by Backpack CEO, aiming for deeper integration.
Ledger is plotting a $4 billion NYSE IPO, highlighting maturation in crypto hardware sector.
BlackRock ceded tokenized Treasury market lead to Circle due to mechanical factors in settlement processes.
Negative
Solana faces a critical flaw that could enable hackers to stall the network, eroding trust in its scalability.
Privacy coins like Monero and Zcash plunged, with losses up to 11.4%, amid broader regulatory scrutiny fears.
Deloitte highlighted risks in tokenized settlements that could facilitate undetectable market manipulation.
Failing crypto exchanges may face new regulations preventing withdrawal delays, exposing operational weaknesses.
Big Movers
The most notable movers in the past 24 hours include ZetaChain surging 27.84% as a top gainer, potentially driven by ecosystem expansions, alongside River up 27.6% and Axie Infinity rising 11.29% amid gaming sector revival. On the downside, MYX Finance led losses with a 13.4% drop, followed by pump.fun at 12.2% and Monero at 11.4%, reflecting privacy coin vulnerabilities. Buying opportunities may exist in major dips, such as Bitcoin’s current oversold state below $88,000, offering entry points for long-term holders anticipating Fed clarity; Ethereum at $2,800 presents similar value amid whale activity.
Decisions by monetary authorities influence the Bitcoin rate.
The post Crypto Weekly Snapshot – Key News Shaking Crypto appeared first on Cryptopress.
Solana Mobile’s second-generation crypto smartphone, the Seeker, has seen preorders surge past tens of thousands of units in a short period.
Over 30 projects have committed to airdropping tokens directly to Seeker device owners.
Priced at $450, the Seeker is significantly more affordable than the original Saga phone.
The airdrop incentive model replicates the strategy that drove massive secondary-market gains for Saga holders.
Solana Mobile is witnessing strong demand for its upcoming Seeker smartphone, with token airdrop commitments from numerous crypto projects fueling a rapid increase in preorders.
The Seeker, announced in July 2024 as the successor to the Saga phone, is priced at $450 during the preorder phase — a sharp reduction from the Saga’s original $1,000 price tag. Shipments are scheduled to begin in the first half of 2025.
The primary catalyst for the preorder rally has been the airdrop program. Dozens of projects across the Solana (SOL) ecosystem have publicly committed to distributing tokens to all Seeker device owners, leveraging the phone’s built-in Seed Vault wallet for seamless delivery. This approach echoes the Saga’s experience, where a single major airdrop from the BONK memecoin project delivered thousands of dollars in value to early holders, sending secondary-market phone prices soaring.
Over 49% of Seekers who claimed SKR are staking to earn rewards What are you waiting for?Stake now on web and in Seed Vault Wallet powered by @solflare pic.twitter.com/OFLoyvmkxE
— Seeker | Solana Mobile (@solanamobile) January 21, 2026
Reports indicate preorder volumes have climbed quickly since the airdrop announcements began rolling out, demonstrating the power of direct incentives in driving hardware adoption within crypto communities.
Solana Mobile executives have emphasized that the Seeker is designed to bring mainstream users onchain through accessible pricing and rewarding experiences. The growing list of participating projects continues to build momentum, with regular updates shared on the company’s official channels.
While the strategy has proven effective, risks remain, including potential delivery delays and variability in the ultimate value of airdropped tokens. Nonetheless, the early response suggests strong market validation for Solana’s mobile push.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute advice of any kind. Readers should conduct their own research before making any decisions.
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Grayscale Files S-1 With SEC to Launch Spot BNB ETF on Nasdaq
Grayscale Investments has taken a significant step in broadening access to altcoin assets by filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to launch a spot exchange-traded fund (ETF) tracking BNB, the native cryptocurrency of the BNB Chain ecosystem.
The registration statement (Form S-1) outlines the creation of the Grayscale BNB Trust, which would hold BNB directly and seek to mirror its market price, minus fees and expenses. This structure mirrors Grayscale’s successful spot Bitcoin and Ether ETFs, providing investors a familiar, regulated vehicle for exposure without managing wallets, private keys, or custody risks associated with direct crypto holdings.
The filing arrives amid a wave of altcoin ETF interest following approvals for Bitcoin and Ether products. It closely trails VanEck’s prior submission for a BNB-focused ETF, indicating growing asset manager competition to offer diversified crypto baskets to institutional and retail investors.
Key implications include potential increased liquidity and mainstream adoption for BNB, which powers transaction fees, staking, and governance on one of the largest smart contract platforms. However, the path to approval remains uncertain, as the SEC has historically applied heightened scrutiny to tokens beyond Bitcoin and Ether due to concerns over market manipulation, custody standards, and classification.
If approved, the ETF would list on Nasdaq, subject to the exchange submitting a 19b-4 rule change proposal for SEC review. This dual process—S-1 for registration and 19b-4 for listing—has become standard for spot crypto ETFs.
Grayscale’s move reflects confidence in evolving regulatory clarity and BNB’s established utility in decentralized applications, though investors should note that no timeline for SEC decision has been provided, and past altcoin proposals have faced delays or modifications.
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BlackRock Moves $603 Million in BTC and ETH to Coinbase Prime
Amid ETF Redemptions
BlackRock transferred 3,970 BTC (approx. $356.7 million) and 82,813 ETH (approx. $247.1 million) to Coinbase Prime during early trading hours.
The movement coincides with significant net outflows from the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) and iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA).
Market analysts suggest the transfers are operational liquidity moves to facilitate ETF redemptions rather than a directional market bet.
Blockchain analytics platforms have flagged large-scale institutional transfers originating from wallets associated with BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager. During the morning of Jan. 22, 2026, the firm moved a combined $603.8 million in digital assets to Coinbase Prime, the institutional trading and custody arm of the leading U.S. exchange. The transaction included 3,970 BTC and a substantial 82,813 ETH, sparking immediate discussions across trading desks regarding the firm’s current positioning.
The timing of these transfers aligns with a sharp increase in redemptions for spot crypto ETFs. According to recent data from Farside Investors, the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) saw daily net outflows of approximately $356.6 million, while the iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA) recorded nearly $250.3 million in withdrawals. These figures represent some of the largest single-day exits for the funds since late 2025, reflecting a broader risk-off sentiment in global markets driven by macroeconomic uncertainty.
While large exchange deposits are often viewed as a precursor to selling, industry experts view these specific movements as standard treasury management. To meet investor redemption requests, ETF issuers must move the underlying assets to their primary broker or custodian to be liquidated or settled. “The fund structure itself uses in-kind creations and redemptions, a mechanism that supports liquidity and allows for efficient trading even during periods of market volatility,” noted a source familiar with BlackRock’s fixed income and product strategy.
Despite the recent outflows, BlackRock remains a dominant force in the digital asset landscape. Following these transactions, the firm’s total holdings are estimated to exceed 284,000 BTC and over 3.4 million ETH. The current market “red” is viewed by some as a necessary leverage flush, with long liquidations totaling over $760 million in the past 24 hours. As institutional players like BlackRock and Fidelity navigate these flows, the scale of these on-chain movements serves as a reminder of the deep integration between traditional finance and crypto infrastructure.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute advice of any kind. Readers should conduct their own research before making any decisions.
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Midnight Foundation Partners With AlphaTON to Bring
Programmable Privacy to Telegram’s 1 Billion ...
The Midnight Foundation has signed a definitive agreement with AlphaTON Capital to integrate its zero-knowledge blockchain into the TON ecosystem.
The partnership will enable privacy-preserving AI agents on Telegram through “Cocoon AI,” allowing users to keep financial and personal data confidential.
The native NIGHT token fell 5.7% in the last 24 hours to $0.058, amid a broader cooling period for privacy-centric assets.
Midnight, the privacy-focused blockchain developed by Input Output and Charles Hoskinson, is moving to capture Telegram’s massive user base through a strategic partnership with AlphaTON Capital. The agreement, announced this week, marks the first-to-market integration of a zero-knowledge (ZK) blockchain with the TON ecosystem. The collaboration aims to provide a “privacy layer” for Telegram’s emerging AI infrastructure, specifically the Cocoon AI platform, which facilitates automated tasks like shopping and financial management.
Under the terms of the deal, AlphaTON Capital will operate one of Midnight’s ten federated nodes, providing the computational backbone for decentralized, privacy-first AI. The integration leverages Midnight’s programmable privacy features, ensuring that while AI agents process user requests, the underlying messages, credentials, and financial metadata remain invisible to third parties, including Telegram and the developers themselves. This move comes as Midnight enters its Kūkolu phase, a development milestone signifying a stable network environment for decentralized applications (dApps).
Despite the high-profile partnership, the project’s native token, NIGHT, has faced short-term sell pressure. At the time of writing, NIGHT is trading at approximately $0.058, down nearly 6% over the past 24 hours. This decline follows a volatile week for the privacy sector, where established assets like Monero (XMR) and Zcash (ZEC) have also seen pullbacks. However, the token recently gained significant liquidity through a listing on the social trading platform eToro, which expanded access to over 35 million registered users.
“The next great leap for the internet isn’t more speed or more content, it’s the restoration of personal agency,” said Charles Hoskinson, founder of Midnight. “Utility should not come at the expense of privacy, and this integration demonstrates that ZK-proofs can scale to meet the demands of a billion-user ecosystem.”
Looking ahead, the Midnight roadmap includes the Mōhalu and Hua phases scheduled for the second and third quarters of 2026. these updates are expected to introduce hybrid dApps, which will allow Midnight’s privacy features to be embedded into other chains, including Cardano and Ethereum, further expanding the utility of the NIGHT token beyond the TON integration.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute advice of any kind. Readers should conduct their own research before making any decisions.
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The Senate Agriculture Committee has published a new draft of crypto market structure legislation without bipartisan support.The bill expands CFTC oversight and exempts core crypto developers from regulated financial firm status.President Trump hopes to sign crypto legislation ‘very soon,’ according to his Davos speech.The Senate Banking Committee delays its bill to prioritize housing affordability. The U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee has released a revised draft of the crypto market structure bill, aiming to provide clearer oversight for digital assets amid ongoing regulatory debates. Led by Chairman John Boozman (R-Ark.), the draft was unveiled on January 21 despite failing to secure Democratic backing, including from Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.). The legislation seeks to expand the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC) authority over digital commodities, including spot markets, derivatives, and measures to prevent manipulation. According to CoinDesk, frontline crypto developers would not be treated as regulated financial firms under this proposal. A committee markup is scheduled for January 27, potentially advancing the bill despite partisan divides. Boozman stated, “While differences remain on fundamental policy issues, this bill builds on our bipartisan discussion draft while incorporating input from stakeholders and represents months of work.” President Donald Trump added momentum during his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, saying, “Congress is working very hard on crypto market structure legislation — Bitcoin (BTC), all of them — which I hope to sign very soon, unlocking new pathways for Americans to reach financial freedom.” This aligns with his push to position the U.S. as the crypto capital of the world. Meanwhile, the Senate Banking Committee has postponed its own crypto bill, shifting focus to housing legislation to support Trump’s affordability agenda. This could delay comprehensive rules until late February or March. BULLISH: President Trump says he is ready to sign the crypto market legislation.This crypto Market structure bill will reduce manipulation and push crypto adoption like never seen before. pic.twitter.com/6RWunJy0Vf — Ash Crypto (@AshCrypto) November 9, 2025 The proposal draws from prior efforts like the House-passed Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, aiming to delineate responsibilities between the CFTC and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Assets like Ethereum (ETH) could see clearer classification as commodities or securities. Industry reactions highlight the bill’s potential to reduce manipulation and boost adoption, though lack of bipartisanship raises risks of further delays or amendments. For additional context, see this verified X post from Ash Crypto. Related article: Brian Armstrong Champions Crypto Clarity on Cryptopress.site. Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute advice of any kind. Readers should conduct their own research before making any decisions. The post Senate Agriculture Committee Unveils Crypto Market Structure Bill Amid Regulatory Push appeared first on Cryptopress. #MarketRebound #BTC #bitcoin #WEFDavos2026