Binance News

A significant update to Solana, Agave v3.0.14, has been released to address critical vulnerabilities that could have led to network stalls through validator crashes or vote spam attacks. According to NS3.AI, despite the importance of the update, only 18% of the stake upgraded promptly, underscoring the difficulties in achieving swift software adoption among decentralized validators. In response, the Solana Foundation has linked stake delegation incentives to software compliance, aiming to enhance security through economic penalties and promote client diversity to reduce risks.

Crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that incorporate staking features present an opportunity for investors to enhance their yield potential. According to NS3.AI, while these financial products can offer attractive returns, they also introduce additional custody risks that may not be suitable for every investor profile. The article provides a comparison between direct investments in Ethereum and staking funds, aiming to assist investors in aligning their choices with their financial objectives.

The 'Magnificent Seven' tech giants, known for their significant market influence, are currently under investor scrutiny regarding their AI investments and returns. According to NS3.AI, since reaching a peak on October 29th, five of these companies have experienced declines in their stock prices, with only Alphabet and Amazon showing gains. The forthcoming earnings reports for Microsoft, Apple, Tesla, and Meta are anticipated to be crucial in shaping market sentiment and assessing the performance of the tech sector.

Sui Group, a company listed on Nasdaq, has revealed its strategic shift from being a traditional crypto treasury vehicle to becoming an active yield-generating operating business. According to NS3.AI, the firm intends to concentrate on utilizing stablecoins and decentralized finance (DeFi) strategies to improve its treasury management. This transition signifies a move towards a more dynamic method of handling crypto assets and generating returns.

a16z Crypto has released an analysis suggesting that concerns about quantum computing threatening cryptocurrencies are often exaggerated. According to PANews, the likelihood of a quantum computer capable of causing real-world disruption emerging before 2030 is very low. The article highlights that mainstream digital signature schemes and zero-knowledge systems like zkSNARKs are not easily susceptible to quantum attacks that follow a 'collect now, decrypt later' model. Prematurely transitioning blockchain systems to quantum-resistant solutions could introduce performance issues, engineering immaturity, and potential security flaws.

a16z further emphasizes that compared to the yet-to-materialize quantum risks, major public blockchains like Bitcoin and Ethereum currently face more immediate challenges. These include the complexity of protocol upgrades, governance issues, and vulnerabilities in implementation layer code. The firm advises developers to plan quantum-resistant paths based on a reasonable assessment of timeframes rather than rushing into migrations. It also notes that in the foreseeable future, traditional security issues such as code defects, side-channel attacks, and fault injections should take precedence over quantum computing concerns. Resources should be focused on enhancing audits, fuzz testing, and formal verification.

Michael Saylor, founder of MicroStrategy, has announced updates concerning the Bitcoin Tracker. According to NS3.AI, MicroStrategy typically discloses its Bitcoin acquisition details soon after such updates. Investors may anticipate potential acquisition data disclosure next week following this recent announcement.

A major cryptocurrency bill is making its way through the U.S. Congress, with potential implications for regular crypto users. According to NS3.AI, the bill aims to simplify complex legislative procedures and shed light on possible changes that could occur depending on whether the bill passes or fails. The legislation seeks to clarify regulatory outcomes that may impact how everyday investors engage with the cryptocurrency market. As the bill progresses, it is crucial for stakeholders to stay informed about its developments and potential effects on the crypto landscape.

The U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has confirmed that the application for a national trust bank license by World Liberty Financial (WLF) will undergo strict scrutiny under current regulatory standards. According to Odaily, this decision comes in response to Senator Elizabeth Warren's previous request to halt the review process. Warren has raised concerns about the project potentially generating billions in 'paper wealth' for U.S. President Donald Trump and his family. OCC regulatory official Jonathan Gould emphasized that WLF's application will be subject to the same rigorous evaluation as any other application.

A South Korean lawyer has been fined $7,000 for misappropriating over $4,000 in settlement funds from police officer clients and investing the money in cryptocurrencies. According to NS3.AI, the court condemned the lawyer's actions as unethical but opted for a financial penalty instead of imprisonment. This decision has sparked criticism for perceived leniency toward crypto-related offenses. The case underscores ongoing concerns about judicial responses to cryptocurrency-related crimes in South Korea.

Alchemy Pay has obtained a Money Transmitter License (MTL) in Nebraska, marking a significant advancement in its regulatory compliance across the United States. According to NS3.AI, the company now possesses MTLs in 14 states, including Arkansas, Iowa, and Oregon. This achievement represents a crucial milestone for Alchemy Pay's efforts to expand and legitimize its presence in the U.S. crypto payment market.

Crypto community members have reported receiving phishing direct messages today. According to NS3.AI, attackers are impersonating accounts using a fake @ethena_lab project verification badge. This scam is designed to deceive users into trusting malicious sources, posing a significant threat to the security of crypto enthusiasts.

XRP is currently trading slightly above a crucial support level, with indications of a possible 25% drop if this support is breached. According to NS3.AI, a recent hidden bullish divergence did not lead to a rebound, highlighting a lack of strong buyer interest as selling pressure from large holders increases. Additionally, outflows from exchange-traded funds and reduced accumulation by long-term holders suggest a decrease in both institutional and retail demand.

Stablecoin trading volume in South Korea has increased by 62% as the South Korean won reached multi-year lows against the US dollar. According to NS3.AI, this surge is influenced by currency pressures and government actions. Major exchanges have initiated campaigns to enhance stablecoin volumes amidst a general downturn in the crypto market. Concurrently, South Korea's economic slowdown and regulatory changes, such as permitting corporate crypto investments, are contributing to a complex market landscape.

On January 25, a16z Crypto released an article discussing the difficulties faced by prediction markets. According to BlockBeats, the article emphasizes that the most challenging aspect is not pricing the future but determining what has actually occurred. One of the major obstacles in the development of prediction markets is the settlement of contracts.

Earlier this year, Venezuelan President Maduro was captured by the U.S. military, leading to controversy in the prediction market operated by Polymarket. Polymarket denied that Venezuela was invaded, ruling the 'U.S. invasion of Venezuela' market as false, sparking widespread debate. Polymarket later clarified that the market referred to a U.S. military action aimed at establishing control, and the operation to capture and evacuate Maduro could not be considered an invasion.

a16z Crypto noted that prediction markets are facing a complex situation, questioning whether prediction contracts should follow official information (Maduro's victory) or the consensus of credible reports (opposition's victory). In this political drama, Polymarket's dispute resolution mechanism acted as 'judge, jury, and executioner,' with contract settlement decisions being heavily manipulated.

Ethereum recently achieved a record high of processing approximately 2.88 million transactions in a single day, according to Odaily. Despite this surge, the average transaction fees remained low, showcasing an unusual pattern of high throughput with low costs. This reflects the effectiveness of Ethereum's long-term technological strategy, particularly the Layer 2 scaling solutions. As usage increases, the mainnet continues to operate smoothly, transitioning into a neutral settlement and coordination layer. This modular architecture aligns more closely with the layered logic of traditional financial infrastructure, where the base layer focuses on security, certainty, and final settlement, while the upper layers handle innovation and execution complexity.

However, the report cautions that recent transaction volumes may include low-value activities such as address poisoning, which is notably prevalent in stablecoin transactions. Therefore, using transaction volume alone to measure genuine economic activity requires careful consideration.

Makina Finance experienced a significant exploit resulting in a loss of $4.13 million. According to NS3.AI, the incident involved MEV bots intercepting the hacker's transaction and redirecting the funds to addresses under their control, thereby preventing a complete loss. These MEV bots serve as an emergency crypto fund recovery mechanism, but their increasing influence and profit-driven motives pose governance challenges concerning fund custody and returns.

Efforts to address these issues include frameworks like Safe Harbor, which aim to formalize and regulate the process by pre-authorizing white hats and establishing clear terms. However, the adoption of such frameworks is still developing amid concerns over centralization and opaque custody.

AGM Group, a blockchain ASIC chip development company listed on Nasdaq, has announced a securities purchase agreement with an institutional investor to raise $25 million through the issuance and sale of common stock. According to ChainCatcher, the funds are intended for general corporate purposes, including working capital, project development, production financing, and other strategic initiatives.

Whale Alert has reported that the USDC Treasury recently destroyed 50 million USDC on the Ethereum blockchain. According to ChainCatcher, this transaction was detected just five minutes prior. The move is part of ongoing activities within the cryptocurrency market.

The North Korean KONNI APT group has launched a campaign deploying AI-generated PowerShell backdoor malware aimed at blockchain and cryptocurrency developers in Japan, Australia, and India. According to NS3.AI, the group utilizes Discord to host malicious archives, which aids in the infection process. Check Point Research provided an in-depth analysis of these activities in a report released on January 21, 2026.

According to CoinMarketCap data, the global cryptocurrency market cap now stands at $2.99T, down by 1.07% over the last 24 hours.Bitcoin (BTC) traded between $88,136 and $89,676 over the past 24 hours. As of 09:30 AM (UTC) today, BTC is trading at $88,455, down by 1.30%.Most major cryptocurrencies by market cap are trading lower. Market outperformers include NOM, ZKC, and ENSO, up by 115%, 70%, and 69%, respectively.Top stories of the day:Brazil's Central Bank Issues Guidelines for Crypto BusinessesU.S. Senate Democrats Oppose Funding Bill with Immigration EnforcementTrump Threatens 100% Tariff on Canadian Goods Amid China-Canada DealOklahoma Bill Proposes Bitcoin Payments for State Employees and BusinessesU.S. Senate Bill Proposes CFTC Oversight of Spot Crypto MarketsTikTok Forms U.S. Entity with Oracle and Key Investors Eric Trump: Sovereign Wealth Funds Turn to Cryptocurrencies Amid Fiat Concerns Geopolitical Tensions Prompt Shift in Global Financial System Colombian Pension Fund Manager Plans Bitcoin Exposure Fund  Upcoming Senate Hearing to Address Key Cryptocurrency Market LegislationMarket movers:ETH: $2935.5 (-0.87%)BNB: $880.47 (-1.33%)XRP: $1.8919 (-1.29%)SOL: $126.51 (-0.49%)TRX: $0.2969 (-0.10%)DOGE: $0.12286 (-1.32%)WLFI: $0.1741 (-2.68%)ADA: $0.3558 (-1.28%)BCH: $590.7 (-0.82%)WBTC: $88310.53 (-1.25%)