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Data from SoSoValue shows that on Jan. 26 (ET), U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs posted net inflows of $6.84 million, ending a five-day run of net outflows.
Spot Ethereum ETFs also rebounded, recording $117 million in net inflows after four straight sessions of outflows. Meanwhile, Solana spot ETFs attracted $2.46 million in net inflows, and XRP spot ETFs brought in $7.76 million for the day.
Spot Ethereum ETFs also rebounded, recording $117 million in net inflows after four straight sessions of outflows. Meanwhile, Solana spot ETFs attracted $2.46 million in net inflows, and XRP spot ETFs brought in $7.76 million for the day.
Base co-founder Jesse Pollak said on X that the Base core team will not secretly “pump” assets or manipulate markets by coordinating capital to drive prices toward predetermined outcomes. He stressed that such actions would unfairly disadvantage other assets, be unsustainable and impossible to repeat long term, undermine the principles of free and open markets, and could even be illegal.
Instead, Pollak said the team’s efforts will center on supporting and promoting high-quality assets and applications to draw more capital and attention, boost visibility for the Base ecosystem, and ensure markets remain open, transparent, and fair.
Instead, Pollak said the team’s efforts will center on supporting and promoting high-quality assets and applications to draw more capital and attention, boost visibility for the Base ecosystem, and ensure markets remain open, transparent, and fair.
Winter storms briefly hit Bitcoin’s hashrate
Severe winter weather in the U.S. has highlighted an often-overlooked risk to Bitcoin’s network: the power grid. Large-scale mining facilities, especially in states like Texas, frequently participate in programs that allow grid operators to ask them to shut down during periods of peak demand or system stress.
When a major cold snap drives up heating demand and strains electricity infrastructure, miners may either lose power or voluntarily curtail operations. The result is a temporary drop in active mining machines, which can show up as a dip in Bitcoin’s hashrate and slightly slower block times.
This effect recently drew attention as several U.S.-linked mining pools, including industry giant Foundry, saw noticeable short-term declines in apparent hashrate. Because many mining operations are geographically clustered and connected to the same power markets, a single regional storm can impact a meaningful share of global mining at once.
While short-term hashrate estimates are noisy and don’t always reflect lasting changes, real curtailments during extreme weather can briefly reduce network computing power. Bitcoin continues to function as designed, but the episode underscores a key point: even a digital monetary network ultimately depends on very physical infrastructure — and the weather that affects it.
Severe winter weather in the U.S. has highlighted an often-overlooked risk to Bitcoin’s network: the power grid. Large-scale mining facilities, especially in states like Texas, frequently participate in programs that allow grid operators to ask them to shut down during periods of peak demand or system stress.
When a major cold snap drives up heating demand and strains electricity infrastructure, miners may either lose power or voluntarily curtail operations. The result is a temporary drop in active mining machines, which can show up as a dip in Bitcoin’s hashrate and slightly slower block times.
This effect recently drew attention as several U.S.-linked mining pools, including industry giant Foundry, saw noticeable short-term declines in apparent hashrate. Because many mining operations are geographically clustered and connected to the same power markets, a single regional storm can impact a meaningful share of global mining at once.
While short-term hashrate estimates are noisy and don’t always reflect lasting changes, real curtailments during extreme weather can briefly reduce network computing power. Bitcoin continues to function as designed, but the episode underscores a key point: even a digital monetary network ultimately depends on very physical infrastructure — and the weather that affects it.
XRP is flashing a potential undervaluation signal as its 30-day MVRV sits around -5.7%, meaning many recent buyers are at a loss — a condition that has historically preceded price rebounds. With XRP trading near $1.88, analysts see this as a positioning reset, with a key breakeven zone around $1.99 that could act as a magnet if sentiment improves.
However, the setup is complex. Market-wide liquidity is strong, with stablecoin supply at record highs, suggesting large amounts of capital are waiting on the sidelines. At the same time, XRP’s derivatives market shows about $3.3 billion in open interest, meaning leveraged positions could amplify any sharp move in either direction. Rising whale transactions also point to higher potential volatility.
Unlike past downturns, this cycle includes notable institutional participation. XRP investment products have attracted tens of millions of dollars in inflows this year, and spot XRP ETFs have gathered over $1 billion since launch. This shift suggests demand is increasingly driven by structured allocations rather than short-term retail speculation, supporting the idea of a more durable recovery if momentum builds.
On exchanges, XRP reserves on Binance have recently increased, signaling improving spot liquidity. Meanwhile, a positive correlation between price and net volume flows indicates that recent price movements are being supported by real buying activity, hinting at a base-building phase.
Beyond market data, Ripple’s ongoing corporate expansion — including acquisitions across custody, treasury, and prime brokerage services, plus regulatory positioning in Europe — is reshaping how investors value the broader ecosystem. For some, the gap between Ripple’s growing enterprise footprint and XRP’s subdued price strengthens the “undervalued” narrative.
However, the setup is complex. Market-wide liquidity is strong, with stablecoin supply at record highs, suggesting large amounts of capital are waiting on the sidelines. At the same time, XRP’s derivatives market shows about $3.3 billion in open interest, meaning leveraged positions could amplify any sharp move in either direction. Rising whale transactions also point to higher potential volatility.
Unlike past downturns, this cycle includes notable institutional participation. XRP investment products have attracted tens of millions of dollars in inflows this year, and spot XRP ETFs have gathered over $1 billion since launch. This shift suggests demand is increasingly driven by structured allocations rather than short-term retail speculation, supporting the idea of a more durable recovery if momentum builds.
On exchanges, XRP reserves on Binance have recently increased, signaling improving spot liquidity. Meanwhile, a positive correlation between price and net volume flows indicates that recent price movements are being supported by real buying activity, hinting at a base-building phase.
Beyond market data, Ripple’s ongoing corporate expansion — including acquisitions across custody, treasury, and prime brokerage services, plus regulatory positioning in Europe — is reshaping how investors value the broader ecosystem. For some, the gap between Ripple’s growing enterprise footprint and XRP’s subdued price strengthens the “undervalued” narrative.
A new survey shows that 31% of Americans believe prediction markets will become a more important part of culture, with much stronger enthusiasm among younger generations. Gen Z and Millennials are far more familiar with platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi than older Americans, highlighting a clear generational divide in awareness and adoption.
This growing interest comes as major prediction market platforms raise billions of dollars and reach sky-high valuations. Kalshi and Polymarket together are now valued at around $20 billion and are processing billions in weekly trading volume. Search interest, which spiked during the 2024 U.S. election, remains far above pre-election levels, suggesting sustained mainstream attention.
Regulatory shifts have also helped fuel momentum. A more accommodating stance from the CFTC has allowed platforms like Polymarket to re-enter the U.S. market and enabled Kalshi to expand into election-related markets, despite ongoing pushback from some state regulators.
Survey results indicate that young Americans see legal and regulatory battles as temporary hurdles rather than dealbreakers. Many view prediction markets as becoming just as relevant to everyday life as sports betting. With massive global events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup expected to drive tens of billions in wagers, the big question is whether prediction markets represent the future of finance — or a speculative bubble. For now, a significant share of young Americans are betting on long-term growth.
This growing interest comes as major prediction market platforms raise billions of dollars and reach sky-high valuations. Kalshi and Polymarket together are now valued at around $20 billion and are processing billions in weekly trading volume. Search interest, which spiked during the 2024 U.S. election, remains far above pre-election levels, suggesting sustained mainstream attention.
Regulatory shifts have also helped fuel momentum. A more accommodating stance from the CFTC has allowed platforms like Polymarket to re-enter the U.S. market and enabled Kalshi to expand into election-related markets, despite ongoing pushback from some state regulators.
Survey results indicate that young Americans see legal and regulatory battles as temporary hurdles rather than dealbreakers. Many view prediction markets as becoming just as relevant to everyday life as sports betting. With massive global events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup expected to drive tens of billions in wagers, the big question is whether prediction markets represent the future of finance — or a speculative bubble. For now, a significant share of young Americans are betting on long-term growth.
Bitcoin’s path toward a new all-time high is increasingly tied to whether spot ETF inflows become sustained rather than short-lived bursts. After strong adoption in the ETF era, early 2026 has shown that institutional demand can reverse quickly, with $1.29 billion in net outflows in late December 2025 and another $681 million pulled during the first full week of January. Although a single large inflow day of about $840 million on Jan. 14 showed demand can return fast, renewed outflows later in January highlighted how fragile that support may be.
The approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs in 2024 changed market structure by channeling regulated, real-money flows directly into Bitcoin, making ETF activity a key signal for price direction. Instead of purely following the traditional halving cycle, Bitcoin’s timing for the next breakout may now depend more on macro conditions, interest-rate expectations, and whether ETF creations persist through risk-off periods.
Macro liquidity also frames the setup. Federal Reserve balance sheet metrics and rate expectations, especially around FOMC meetings, influence broader risk appetite that can drive ETF flows. With markets largely expecting steady rates in the near term, traders are watching whether January’s inflow spike marks the start of a longer trend or just a brief, price-chasing move.
Three broad scenarios emerge. In a bullish case, steady liquidity and multi-week ETF inflows could push Bitcoin to a new high as early as 2026–2027. A middle path keeps the historical cycle intact but delayed, with a new peak arriving closer to the next halving window. A bearish or risk scenario allows for deep drawdowns similar to past cycles if a macro shock forces deleveraging, delaying the next major top.
Institutional forecasts add context: Standard Chartered now targets $150,000 for Bitcoin by the end of 2026, a level that would require a decisive break above the October 2025 record.
The approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs in 2024 changed market structure by channeling regulated, real-money flows directly into Bitcoin, making ETF activity a key signal for price direction. Instead of purely following the traditional halving cycle, Bitcoin’s timing for the next breakout may now depend more on macro conditions, interest-rate expectations, and whether ETF creations persist through risk-off periods.
Macro liquidity also frames the setup. Federal Reserve balance sheet metrics and rate expectations, especially around FOMC meetings, influence broader risk appetite that can drive ETF flows. With markets largely expecting steady rates in the near term, traders are watching whether January’s inflow spike marks the start of a longer trend or just a brief, price-chasing move.
Three broad scenarios emerge. In a bullish case, steady liquidity and multi-week ETF inflows could push Bitcoin to a new high as early as 2026–2027. A middle path keeps the historical cycle intact but delayed, with a new peak arriving closer to the next halving window. A bearish or risk scenario allows for deep drawdowns similar to past cycles if a macro shock forces deleveraging, delaying the next major top.
Institutional forecasts add context: Standard Chartered now targets $150,000 for Bitcoin by the end of 2026, a level that would require a decisive break above the October 2025 record.
Why there’s still no Nipah vaccine after more than 20 years
More than two decades after it was first identified, the Nipah virus remains one of the most dangerous potential threats to global health security, with a fatality rate of 40–75%. Yet unlike COVID-19, which saw vaccines developed in under a year, Nipah still has no approved vaccine. The main barrier is not science, but economics and epidemiology.
Nipah outbreaks tend to be sporadic and localized, mainly in parts of South and Southeast Asia such as Bangladesh and India. Annual case numbers are typically low, making it financially unattractive for major pharmaceutical companies to invest billions of dollars in vaccine development. Small outbreak sizes also make large-scale Phase 3 clinical trials extremely difficult and expensive to conduct.
This market gap is increasingly being filled by nonprofit organizations such as CEPI (the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations). CEPI has committed over $100 million to Nipah-related vaccine and biologics research. Moderna is among the frontrunners with its mRNA-1215 vaccine candidate, which has completed Phase 1 trials to evaluate safety and immune response.
CEPI is also partnering with the Serum Institute of India and the University of Oxford to develop the ChAdOx1 NipahB vaccine, with plans to stockpile 100,000 doses for emergency use. These efforts are part of the broader “100 Days Mission,” which aims to enable vaccine production within 100 days of identifying a new pathogen.
mRNA technology is creating new opportunities for biotech startups as well, thanks to lower development barriers and faster design processes. CEPI has funded smaller firms working on self-amplifying mRNA platforms, which can trigger strong immune responses with lower doses — a major advantage for cost and scalability in developing countries.
Regulatory pathways are also evolving. The U.S. FDA’s “Animal Rule” allows approval based on animal efficacy data and immune markers when human trials are not feasible, potentially speeding up vaccine availability for rare but deadly diseases like Nipah.
Experts increasingly view Nipah vaccine development as a form of global economic insurance. With a mortality rate far higher than COVID-19, a more transmissible Nipah outbreak could cause catastrophic human and economic losses. As a result, the race for a Nipah vaccine is not just a medical challenge, but a strategic investment in pandemic preparedness for the future.
Nipah outbreaks tend to be sporadic and localized, mainly in parts of South and Southeast Asia such as Bangladesh and India. Annual case numbers are typically low, making it financially unattractive for major pharmaceutical companies to invest billions of dollars in vaccine development. Small outbreak sizes also make large-scale Phase 3 clinical trials extremely difficult and expensive to conduct.
This market gap is increasingly being filled by nonprofit organizations such as CEPI (the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations). CEPI has committed over $100 million to Nipah-related vaccine and biologics research. Moderna is among the frontrunners with its mRNA-1215 vaccine candidate, which has completed Phase 1 trials to evaluate safety and immune response.
CEPI is also partnering with the Serum Institute of India and the University of Oxford to develop the ChAdOx1 NipahB vaccine, with plans to stockpile 100,000 doses for emergency use. These efforts are part of the broader “100 Days Mission,” which aims to enable vaccine production within 100 days of identifying a new pathogen.
mRNA technology is creating new opportunities for biotech startups as well, thanks to lower development barriers and faster design processes. CEPI has funded smaller firms working on self-amplifying mRNA platforms, which can trigger strong immune responses with lower doses — a major advantage for cost and scalability in developing countries.
Regulatory pathways are also evolving. The U.S. FDA’s “Animal Rule” allows approval based on animal efficacy data and immune markers when human trials are not feasible, potentially speeding up vaccine availability for rare but deadly diseases like Nipah.
Experts increasingly view Nipah vaccine development as a form of global economic insurance. With a mortality rate far higher than COVID-19, a more transmissible Nipah outbreak could cause catastrophic human and economic losses. As a result, the race for a Nipah vaccine is not just a medical challenge, but a strategic investment in pandemic preparedness for the future.
Thailand’s health authorities have confirmed the presence of the Nipah virus in fruit bats, though at much lower levels than in countries currently experiencing outbreaks. Officials say the main risk comes from infected travelers arriving from abroad rather than local transmission.
Deputy Permanent Secretary for Public Health Dr. Sophon Iamsirithaworn said no human cases have been confirmed in Thailand. As a precaution, pig farming is banned in areas where infected bats are found to prevent transmission from bats to pigs and then to humans. Airports including Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, and Phuket are continuing to screen travelers from affected regions such as Bangladesh and India’s West Bengal.
Health officials noted that outbreaks in Bangladesh and India are under control. Experts also highlighted that the Bangladesh strain of Nipah is more dangerous, with a high fatality rate and severe respiratory symptoms. There is currently no vaccine or specific treatment, but transmission is relatively limited as it requires close contact with bodily fluids.
Fruit bats are the primary host of the virus, and while Nipah can be fatal in 40–75% of human cases, Thai researchers have found no evidence of local transmission to pigs or people. Children are considered especially vulnerable, as the disease can cause severe brain inflammation and long-term complications.
Deputy Permanent Secretary for Public Health Dr. Sophon Iamsirithaworn said no human cases have been confirmed in Thailand. As a precaution, pig farming is banned in areas where infected bats are found to prevent transmission from bats to pigs and then to humans. Airports including Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, and Phuket are continuing to screen travelers from affected regions such as Bangladesh and India’s West Bengal.
Health officials noted that outbreaks in Bangladesh and India are under control. Experts also highlighted that the Bangladesh strain of Nipah is more dangerous, with a high fatality rate and severe respiratory symptoms. There is currently no vaccine or specific treatment, but transmission is relatively limited as it requires close contact with bodily fluids.
Fruit bats are the primary host of the virus, and while Nipah can be fatal in 40–75% of human cases, Thai researchers have found no evidence of local transmission to pigs or people. Children are considered especially vulnerable, as the disease can cause severe brain inflammation and long-term complications.
VanEck launches first U.S. spot Avalanche ETF
The first U.S. spot Avalanche (AVAX) ETF, trading under the ticker VAVX and issued by VanEck, has begun trading on the Nasdaq. The fund gives investors direct exposure to AVAX’s spot price performance along with staking rewards, further expanding the range of crypto ETFs available in the U.S. market.
VanEck said Avalanche is one of the few smart contract platforms—alongside Ethereum and Solana—capable of delivering the network throughput and customization that institutions may require as tokenization accelerates. The firm also plans to work closely with the Avalanche team to produce educational resources aimed at helping traditional investors better understand the network’s technology and risk profile.
VAVX will waive management fees until it reaches $500 million in assets or until February 28, whichever comes first. After that, the fund will charge a 0,2% sponsor fee. On its first trading day, the ETF fell more than 2% to $24,06, even as AVAX gained over 3% in the past 24 hours. Still, the layer-1 token remains down roughly 69% over the past year and about 92% below its 2021 all-time high.
Ava Labs described the launch as a meaningful step in expanding institutional access to the Avalanche network, highlighting growing recognition of the blockchain for real-world applications across enterprises and governments.
With VAVX’s debut, AVAX joins other altcoins such as Solana, XRP, and Dogecoin that have recently received spot ETF approvals in the U.S. However, the broader crypto ETF market has faced pressure lately, with Bitcoin and Ethereum funds seeing significant outflows amid macroeconomic uncertainty.
The first U.S. spot Avalanche (AVAX) ETF, trading under the ticker VAVX and issued by VanEck, has begun trading on the Nasdaq. The fund gives investors direct exposure to AVAX’s spot price performance along with staking rewards, further expanding the range of crypto ETFs available in the U.S. market.
VanEck said Avalanche is one of the few smart contract platforms—alongside Ethereum and Solana—capable of delivering the network throughput and customization that institutions may require as tokenization accelerates. The firm also plans to work closely with the Avalanche team to produce educational resources aimed at helping traditional investors better understand the network’s technology and risk profile.
VAVX will waive management fees until it reaches $500 million in assets or until February 28, whichever comes first. After that, the fund will charge a 0,2% sponsor fee. On its first trading day, the ETF fell more than 2% to $24,06, even as AVAX gained over 3% in the past 24 hours. Still, the layer-1 token remains down roughly 69% over the past year and about 92% below its 2021 all-time high.
Ava Labs described the launch as a meaningful step in expanding institutional access to the Avalanche network, highlighting growing recognition of the blockchain for real-world applications across enterprises and governments.
With VAVX’s debut, AVAX joins other altcoins such as Solana, XRP, and Dogecoin that have recently received spot ETF approvals in the U.S. However, the broader crypto ETF market has faced pressure lately, with Bitcoin and Ethereum funds seeing significant outflows amid macroeconomic uncertainty.
Tether Gold supply surges, outpacing USDT
Tether is seeing rapid growth in its gold-backed token business, with Tether Gold (XAUT) supply expanding far faster than USDT in the fourth quarter. An attestation report from BDO Italia shows 375,000 XAUT were in circulation as of Dec. 31, up 38% in three months, while USDT’s market cap rose just 7% to $187 billion. During Q4 alone, Tether sold about 173,400 XAUT — roughly $882 million worth of gold exposure — as gold prices climbed to a record above $5,100 per ounce.
CEO Paolo Ardoino said XAUT was designed to meet demand for hard-asset hedges as confidence in monetary systems weakens. The token is backed by physical gold stored in Swiss vaults and now carries a market value of around $2.64 billion, up sharply from a year ago and placing it among the top 50 digital assets by market cap.
XAUT competes with Paxos’ PAX Gold but has quickly become a leader in the tokenized gold sector. Tether is also promoting gold for payments through a new unit of account called “Scudo,” equal to 1/1,000 of a troy ounce of gold.
However, BDO’s reports are attestations rather than full financial audits — a long-running point of scrutiny from regulators and critics. Tether has also announced plans to launch USAT, a U.S.-regulated stablecoin backed by cash and U.S. Treasuries. Meanwhile, prediction markets continue to lean toward further upside for gold prices.
Tether is seeing rapid growth in its gold-backed token business, with Tether Gold (XAUT) supply expanding far faster than USDT in the fourth quarter. An attestation report from BDO Italia shows 375,000 XAUT were in circulation as of Dec. 31, up 38% in three months, while USDT’s market cap rose just 7% to $187 billion. During Q4 alone, Tether sold about 173,400 XAUT — roughly $882 million worth of gold exposure — as gold prices climbed to a record above $5,100 per ounce.
CEO Paolo Ardoino said XAUT was designed to meet demand for hard-asset hedges as confidence in monetary systems weakens. The token is backed by physical gold stored in Swiss vaults and now carries a market value of around $2.64 billion, up sharply from a year ago and placing it among the top 50 digital assets by market cap.
XAUT competes with Paxos’ PAX Gold but has quickly become a leader in the tokenized gold sector. Tether is also promoting gold for payments through a new unit of account called “Scudo,” equal to 1/1,000 of a troy ounce of gold.
However, BDO’s reports are attestations rather than full financial audits — a long-running point of scrutiny from regulators and critics. Tether has also announced plans to launch USAT, a U.S.-regulated stablecoin backed by cash and U.S. Treasuries. Meanwhile, prediction markets continue to lean toward further upside for gold prices.
Joseph Chalom, former Head of Digital Assets Strategy at BlackRock and current CEO of SharpLink, says major financial institutions are quietly making large bets on Ethereum as the global infrastructure for asset tokenization, even as price action remains subdued.
He highlights three key drivers that could push Ethereum activity up tenfold this year. First, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink views Ethereum as the “toll road” for tokenized assets. Second, more than 65% of all stablecoins and tokenized assets currently reside on Ethereum — roughly ten times more than on Solana. Third, high-value projects continue to favor Ethereum’s decade-long track record of security and deep liquidity over faster and cheaper alternative blockchains.
According to Chalom, recent crypto price stagnation largely reflects early “OG” whales exiting positions while speculative capital rotates into commodities. Some long-term holders are selling bitcoin and ether amid emerging concerns about future quantum computing risks. The shift in speculative flows has been so aggressive that silver is now trading with volatility comparable to a memecoin. Historical patterns suggest markets typically need three to four months to flush out leverage — a cycle believed to have started in October.
Looking ahead, artificial intelligence and “task-specific agents” are expected to help transform Ethereum into a self-operating machine economy. The new ERC-8004 standard enables trustless, automated wallet activity, allowing portfolios to rebalance and stake assets without intermediaries. The Ethereum Foundation has also established a dedicated team to position the network as a long-term, quantum-resistant decentralized infrastructure. Future wallets could function as “digital twins,” autonomously managing yield strategies and risk preferences on behalf of users.
He highlights three key drivers that could push Ethereum activity up tenfold this year. First, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink views Ethereum as the “toll road” for tokenized assets. Second, more than 65% of all stablecoins and tokenized assets currently reside on Ethereum — roughly ten times more than on Solana. Third, high-value projects continue to favor Ethereum’s decade-long track record of security and deep liquidity over faster and cheaper alternative blockchains.
According to Chalom, recent crypto price stagnation largely reflects early “OG” whales exiting positions while speculative capital rotates into commodities. Some long-term holders are selling bitcoin and ether amid emerging concerns about future quantum computing risks. The shift in speculative flows has been so aggressive that silver is now trading with volatility comparable to a memecoin. Historical patterns suggest markets typically need three to four months to flush out leverage — a cycle believed to have started in October.
Looking ahead, artificial intelligence and “task-specific agents” are expected to help transform Ethereum into a self-operating machine economy. The new ERC-8004 standard enables trustless, automated wallet activity, allowing portfolios to rebalance and stake assets without intermediaries. The Ethereum Foundation has also established a dedicated team to position the network as a long-term, quantum-resistant decentralized infrastructure. Future wallets could function as “digital twins,” autonomously managing yield strategies and risk preferences on behalf of users.
Russia has officially blacklisted crypto exchange WhiteBIT, labeling it an “undesirable organization” over alleged support for Ukraine’s military as the war enters its fourth year.
The Russian Prosecutor General’s Office said the designation bans WhiteBIT and its parent company, W Group, from operating in the country, including holding bank accounts, moving funds, or serving Russian clients.
Authorities claim the Lithuania-based exchange, originally founded in Kharkiv, Ukraine, helped users move money out of Russia through “gray schemes” and was involved in other unspecified illegal activities. They also allege WhiteBIT has supported Ukraine’s military efforts since 2022 and cooperated with institutions linked to the Ukrainian government.
Prosecutors further accused WhiteBIT’s leadership of donating $11 million to Ukraine in 2022, including roughly $900,000 allegedly allocated for drone purchases. They also tied the exchange to United24, a crypto donation initiative launched by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that funds areas such as medical aid and education.
WhiteBIT had already barred Russian users under its AML and sanctions compliance policies, citing adherence to EU restrictions imposed on Russia.
The move comes amid broader financial pressure linked to the war. Ukraine has sanctioned multiple Russian crypto-related firms, while blockchain analytics reports have suggested Russia has used digital assets to обход sanctions and move funds internationally.
The Russian Prosecutor General’s Office said the designation bans WhiteBIT and its parent company, W Group, from operating in the country, including holding bank accounts, moving funds, or serving Russian clients.
Authorities claim the Lithuania-based exchange, originally founded in Kharkiv, Ukraine, helped users move money out of Russia through “gray schemes” and was involved in other unspecified illegal activities. They also allege WhiteBIT has supported Ukraine’s military efforts since 2022 and cooperated with institutions linked to the Ukrainian government.
Prosecutors further accused WhiteBIT’s leadership of donating $11 million to Ukraine in 2022, including roughly $900,000 allegedly allocated for drone purchases. They also tied the exchange to United24, a crypto donation initiative launched by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that funds areas such as medical aid and education.
WhiteBIT had already barred Russian users under its AML and sanctions compliance policies, citing adherence to EU restrictions imposed on Russia.
The move comes amid broader financial pressure linked to the war. Ukraine has sanctioned multiple Russian crypto-related firms, while blockchain analytics reports have suggested Russia has used digital assets to обход sanctions and move funds internationally.
BlackRock files for Bitcoin income ETF using options strategy
BlackRock has filed a registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for a new fund, the iShares Bitcoin Premium Income ETF, designed to generate income through a call-option strategy.
According to the filing, the ETF will track the price performance of Bitcoin while producing additional income by actively selling call options on shares of IBIT, BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin ETF, and at times on indices linked to spot Bitcoin exchange-traded products. The premiums collected from selling these options will serve as an income source for the fund.
In practice, the strategy involves selling other investors the right to buy IBIT shares at predetermined prices. In return, the fund collects option premiums. ETF shareholders will have fractional interests in that income, along with exposure to Bitcoin, IBIT shares, and cash held by the fund.
The proposed product would compete with existing Bitcoin covered-call and income-focused ETFs, including the NEOS Bitcoin High Income ETF (BTCI), which manages about $1.09 billion in assets, as well as Roundhill’s YBTC and YieldMax’s YBIT.
Because it is actively managed and relies on options strategies, the new BlackRock ETF is expected to charge higher fees than passive spot Bitcoin ETFs such as IBIT. While this structure may provide higher income potential, it also introduces greater complexity, added risk, and capped upside during strong Bitcoin rallies.
BlackRock has filed a registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for a new fund, the iShares Bitcoin Premium Income ETF, designed to generate income through a call-option strategy.
According to the filing, the ETF will track the price performance of Bitcoin while producing additional income by actively selling call options on shares of IBIT, BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin ETF, and at times on indices linked to spot Bitcoin exchange-traded products. The premiums collected from selling these options will serve as an income source for the fund.
In practice, the strategy involves selling other investors the right to buy IBIT shares at predetermined prices. In return, the fund collects option premiums. ETF shareholders will have fractional interests in that income, along with exposure to Bitcoin, IBIT shares, and cash held by the fund.
The proposed product would compete with existing Bitcoin covered-call and income-focused ETFs, including the NEOS Bitcoin High Income ETF (BTCI), which manages about $1.09 billion in assets, as well as Roundhill’s YBTC and YieldMax’s YBIT.
Because it is actively managed and relies on options strategies, the new BlackRock ETF is expected to charge higher fees than passive spot Bitcoin ETFs such as IBIT. While this structure may provide higher income potential, it also introduces greater complexity, added risk, and capped upside during strong Bitcoin rallies.
RIVER, the native token of a multi-chain stablecoin abstraction platform, has surged more than 1,900% in the past month, climbing from around $5 in late December to over $80 and breaking into the top 100 crypto assets by market cap. The project aims to eliminate the need for bridging stablecoins between blockchains and has recently drawn high-profile support from Tron founder Justin Sun and BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes. Hayes pushed for more centralized exchange listings early on, while Sun invested $8 million to help integrate Tron into the River ecosystem.
Despite the hype and a further 168% gain over the past week, analysts warn the rally may be partly driven by derivatives market dynamics rather than fundamentals. Blockchain analytics firm CoinGlass highlighted RIVER as an example of how deeply negative funding rates can lure traders into crowded long positions, creating a cycle of “consensus positioning” that can be repeatedly reset and potentially trap traders.
Meanwhile, River’s on-chain fundamentals paint a more subdued picture. The protocol’s total value locked (TVL) stands around $161 million, far below its $605 million peak in October. Its over-collateralized stablecoin, satUSD, has a market cap of roughly $159 million, ranking around 40th among stablecoins.
Despite the hype and a further 168% gain over the past week, analysts warn the rally may be partly driven by derivatives market dynamics rather than fundamentals. Blockchain analytics firm CoinGlass highlighted RIVER as an example of how deeply negative funding rates can lure traders into crowded long positions, creating a cycle of “consensus positioning” that can be repeatedly reset and potentially trap traders.
Meanwhile, River’s on-chain fundamentals paint a more subdued picture. The protocol’s total value locked (TVL) stands around $161 million, far below its $605 million peak in October. Its over-collateralized stablecoin, satUSD, has a market cap of roughly $159 million, ranking around 40th among stablecoins.
BitMine Immersion has expanded its Ethereum treasury to 4.24 million ETH, worth roughly $12.3 billion, after purchasing an additional 40,302 ETH in its latest weekly buy. The firm’s total crypto and cash holdings now stand at about $12.8 billion. Its ETH position represents around 3.5% of Ethereum’s circulating supply.
Nearly half of BitMine’s ETH — just over 2 million coins — is now staked, generating significant yield. Chairman Tom Lee said the company is the world’s largest ETH staker and estimated that, once fully staked through partners, annual staking revenue could reach about $374 million.
Beyond ETH, BitMine also holds bitcoin, major equity stakes, and substantial cash reserves. Backed by prominent institutional investors, the company aims to accumulate 5% of Ethereum’s circulating supply long term.
Lee added that discussions at Davos signaled growing institutional acceptance of crypto, with Wall Street increasingly viewing digital assets and blockchain as converging with traditional finance and AI. BitMine’s stock was mostly flat over the past week, with slight pre-market weakness.
Nearly half of BitMine’s ETH — just over 2 million coins — is now staked, generating significant yield. Chairman Tom Lee said the company is the world’s largest ETH staker and estimated that, once fully staked through partners, annual staking revenue could reach about $374 million.
Beyond ETH, BitMine also holds bitcoin, major equity stakes, and substantial cash reserves. Backed by prominent institutional investors, the company aims to accumulate 5% of Ethereum’s circulating supply long term.
Lee added that discussions at Davos signaled growing institutional acceptance of crypto, with Wall Street increasingly viewing digital assets and blockchain as converging with traditional finance and AI. BitMine’s stock was mostly flat over the past week, with slight pre-market weakness.
Kraken launches DeFi Earn in the U.S., EU and Canada
Kraken has announced the launch of its DeFi Earn product in the United States (most states), the European Union and Canada, aiming to give centralized exchange users easier access to onchain yield opportunities.
The product is built on Veda’s vault infrastructure. The initial USDC vaults will have risk managed by Chaos Labs and Sentora, with capital allocated across major onchain protocols such as Aave, Morpho, Sky and Tydro. Target yields are advertised at up to 8% annually.
With this model, Kraken seeks to simplify the DeFi experience for mainstream users while keeping yield generation and capital deployment directly onchain.
Kraken has announced the launch of its DeFi Earn product in the United States (most states), the European Union and Canada, aiming to give centralized exchange users easier access to onchain yield opportunities.
The product is built on Veda’s vault infrastructure. The initial USDC vaults will have risk managed by Chaos Labs and Sentora, with capital allocated across major onchain protocols such as Aave, Morpho, Sky and Tydro. Target yields are advertised at up to 8% annually.
With this model, Kraken seeks to simplify the DeFi experience for mainstream users while keeping yield generation and capital deployment directly onchain.
Sharps Technology says its Solana treasury has been generating steady staking income since launch, offering the first quantitative look at how the Nasdaq-listed medical device firm’s onchain yield strategy is performing while SOL prices remain under pressure.
According to the company’s latest update, its validator partners are producing approximately 7% gross annualized staking returns before fees. Nearly all of Sharps’ SOL holdings are currently staked. The firm also recently launched an institutional-grade validator in partnership with Coinbase, signaling a shift from a passive treasury approach to more direct participation in Solana’s network infrastructure.
Sharps is increasingly positioning staking rewards as a recurring cash-flow stream rather than a directional bet on SOL’s price. This mirrors a broader trend among publicly traded Solana treasury companies that are leaning on validator operations and staking yields to help support valuations during weaker market conditions.
The company holds just under 2 million SOL worth roughly $250 million, placing it among the largest public holders of Solana. However, the position was accumulated at an average cost of about $195 per token, well above current prices near $120. SOL is down nearly 60% from its peak about a year ago, while Sharps’ shares remain more than 80% below their highs from last summer.
According to the company’s latest update, its validator partners are producing approximately 7% gross annualized staking returns before fees. Nearly all of Sharps’ SOL holdings are currently staked. The firm also recently launched an institutional-grade validator in partnership with Coinbase, signaling a shift from a passive treasury approach to more direct participation in Solana’s network infrastructure.
Sharps is increasingly positioning staking rewards as a recurring cash-flow stream rather than a directional bet on SOL’s price. This mirrors a broader trend among publicly traded Solana treasury companies that are leaning on validator operations and staking yields to help support valuations during weaker market conditions.
The company holds just under 2 million SOL worth roughly $250 million, placing it among the largest public holders of Solana. However, the position was accumulated at an average cost of about $195 per token, well above current prices near $120. SOL is down nearly 60% from its peak about a year ago, while Sharps’ shares remain more than 80% below their highs from last summer.
Bitwise launches first onchain vault strategy on Morpho
Bitwise Asset Management has rolled out its first onchain vault strategy through the DeFi lending protocol Morpho, marking a deeper move into the onchain yield market. The initial vault targets yields of up to 6% on USDC by allocating capital to overcollateralized lending markets, with Bitwise actively managing both strategy and risk.
The firm says the vault structure is built to make DeFi yields more accessible to investors who don’t want to handle complex onchain risk management themselves. Bitwise acts as the vault “curator,” designing the strategy and overseeing real-time risk controls, while user funds remain non-custodial and held directly onchain via smart contracts.
Looking ahead, Bitwise plans to expand support to other stablecoins and digital assets, as well as broaden into additional DeFi strategies such as real-world asset tokenization, decentralized exchange liquidity provision, and yield farming. The company has previously described onchain vaults as “ETFs 2.0” and expects assets in such structures to grow further following a market reset that exposed weak risk practices across some earlier vault strategies.
Despite their transparency and automation, onchain yield products still carry risks, including potential smart contract vulnerabilities and losses if collateral values drop too quickly. Unlike traditional financial products, these vaults are not insured, and losses may be shared among participants within the same pool.
Bitwise Asset Management has rolled out its first onchain vault strategy through the DeFi lending protocol Morpho, marking a deeper move into the onchain yield market. The initial vault targets yields of up to 6% on USDC by allocating capital to overcollateralized lending markets, with Bitwise actively managing both strategy and risk.
The firm says the vault structure is built to make DeFi yields more accessible to investors who don’t want to handle complex onchain risk management themselves. Bitwise acts as the vault “curator,” designing the strategy and overseeing real-time risk controls, while user funds remain non-custodial and held directly onchain via smart contracts.
Looking ahead, Bitwise plans to expand support to other stablecoins and digital assets, as well as broaden into additional DeFi strategies such as real-world asset tokenization, decentralized exchange liquidity provision, and yield farming. The company has previously described onchain vaults as “ETFs 2.0” and expects assets in such structures to grow further following a market reset that exposed weak risk practices across some earlier vault strategies.
Despite their transparency and automation, onchain yield products still carry risks, including potential smart contract vulnerabilities and losses if collateral values drop too quickly. Unlike traditional financial products, these vaults are not insured, and losses may be shared among participants within the same pool.
Dormant 9-year Ethereum whale moves $145 million to Gemini
A long-dormant Ethereum whale wallet has reactivated after nine years, transferring 50,000 ETH worth roughly $145 million to the Gemini exchange in the past 12 hours, according to on-chain monitoring by EmberCN.
The address originally withdrew 135,000 ETH from Bitfinex about nine years ago, when ETH was trading near $90, for a total cost of around $12.17 million. At current prices, that position represents an approximate 32x gain.
Despite the large transfer, the whale still holds 85,000 ETH, valued at about $244 million, suggesting the move may be partial profit-taking rather than a full exit.
A long-dormant Ethereum whale wallet has reactivated after nine years, transferring 50,000 ETH worth roughly $145 million to the Gemini exchange in the past 12 hours, according to on-chain monitoring by EmberCN.
The address originally withdrew 135,000 ETH from Bitfinex about nine years ago, when ETH was trading near $90, for a total cost of around $12.17 million. At current prices, that position represents an approximate 32x gain.
Despite the large transfer, the whale still holds 85,000 ETH, valued at about $244 million, suggesting the move may be partial profit-taking rather than a full exit.
Tokenized US Treasuries surpass $10 billion, USYC overtakes BUIDL
Tokenized U.S. Treasuries have surpassed $10 billion in total value, marking a shift from proof-of-concept experimentation to live financial infrastructure. In a notable development, Circle’s USYC has edged past BlackRock’s BUIDL to become the largest tokenized Treasury product on the market.
As of Jan. 22, USYC holds $1.69 billion in assets under management, about $6.14 million (0.36%) more than BUIDL. Over the past 30 days, USYC expanded by 11% while BUIDL contracted by 2.85%, signaling a clear divergence in net flows rather than a simple branding battle.
USYC’s edge comes largely from distribution and collateral integration. The product is embedded in exchange collateral rails, including Binance’s off-exchange collateral framework for derivatives trading. Its yield structure, which accumulates returns directly into the token’s value, also fits more smoothly into automated margin and collateral systems than BUIDL’s payout distribution model.
Access plays a major role as well. USYC features lower minimum investment thresholds and is open to a broader base of non-U.S. institutions, family offices, and trading firms. BUIDL, by contrast, is limited to U.S. Qualified Purchasers and requires a significantly higher minimum, narrowing its addressable market within digital asset–native finance.
The $10 billion milestone highlights how tokenized Treasuries are evolving into a default yield-bearing collateral layer on blockchain rather than a niche experiment. Competition in the sector is now less about brand recognition and more about infrastructure integration, capital efficiency, and reducing operational friction for institutions deploying on-chain collateral.
Tokenized U.S. Treasuries have surpassed $10 billion in total value, marking a shift from proof-of-concept experimentation to live financial infrastructure. In a notable development, Circle’s USYC has edged past BlackRock’s BUIDL to become the largest tokenized Treasury product on the market.
As of Jan. 22, USYC holds $1.69 billion in assets under management, about $6.14 million (0.36%) more than BUIDL. Over the past 30 days, USYC expanded by 11% while BUIDL contracted by 2.85%, signaling a clear divergence in net flows rather than a simple branding battle.
USYC’s edge comes largely from distribution and collateral integration. The product is embedded in exchange collateral rails, including Binance’s off-exchange collateral framework for derivatives trading. Its yield structure, which accumulates returns directly into the token’s value, also fits more smoothly into automated margin and collateral systems than BUIDL’s payout distribution model.
Access plays a major role as well. USYC features lower minimum investment thresholds and is open to a broader base of non-U.S. institutions, family offices, and trading firms. BUIDL, by contrast, is limited to U.S. Qualified Purchasers and requires a significantly higher minimum, narrowing its addressable market within digital asset–native finance.
The $10 billion milestone highlights how tokenized Treasuries are evolving into a default yield-bearing collateral layer on blockchain rather than a niche experiment. Competition in the sector is now less about brand recognition and more about infrastructure integration, capital efficiency, and reducing operational friction for institutions deploying on-chain collateral.
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