Cryptopolitan

Stock market traders put money into protective bets against Chinese company shares last week, even as President Donald Trump’s warnings about tariffs on Greenland grabbed most of the attention across Wall Street.

Just three weeks into 2026, markets are showing the same behavior as last year. Trump issues threats, stocks get shaky, things calm down after a few days, and shares start climbing again. The pattern has become routine for those tracking market swings.

The Cboe Volatility Index, which measures fear in the market, shot up on Tuesday but quickly dropped back down. By Friday, it sat lower than where it started the previous week. The index’s futures ended the week looking almost the same as before.

Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) one-month chart, Source: Cboe.com

But behind the scenes, some traders were taking steps to protect themselves. They worried about two main things. Problems that could hurt Chinese stocks and the chance that big tech companies might report weak earnings.

Investors snapped up around 400,000 put options set to expire in March for the iShares China Large-Cap ETF. They also grabbed 20,000 contracts in the KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF and 150,000 puts in the Xtrackers Harvest CSI China A-Shares ETF. Put options let traders profit if prices fall or limit their losses.

Christopher Jacobson works as co-head of derivatives strategy at Susquehanna International Group. He said in a written note, seen by Bloomberg,  that no clear reason drove these moves. The investors might just be getting ready for worse relations between the United States and China, especially after China criticized the recent trade agreement between America and Taiwan.

Traders getting better at the TACO trade

Market experts say investors have gotten better at handling what they call the TACO trade. This limits how high fear spikes and how long it lasts.

Amy Wu Silverman heads derivatives strategy at RBC Capital Markets. She described Trump’s approach this way: “It seems very much like he’s playing this playbook of like, ‘I’m going to go in kind of mad dog style.

No one really knows what I could do.’ And then you almost need the market to have a tantrum and then he will back off.” She added that when these bumps show up, they give good chances to bet against fear or reach for gains.

Even serious global tensions have barely moved the fear gauge. Trump talked about the Greenland situation as a national security matter. China might use similar reasoning when discussing Taiwan.

Antoine Bracq runs advisory services at Lighthouse Canton. He pointed out that “Markets appear increasingly desensitized to breaches of international laws — whether in Venezuela, Iran, or Greenland.” He said traders showed the same lack of concern about military drills near Taiwan and the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Tech earnings protection picks up

Traders also bought protection against drops in chip company stocks. Big tech firms including Apple Inc., Tesla Inc. and Meta Platforms Inc. will report their earnings this week. Investors picked up January 30 put options in Nvidia Corp., Oracle Corp. and Broadcom Inc.

Bracq said market drops will likely stay brief as long as people believe the American economy stays strong. He thinks a VIX reading above 20 might be a good time for everyday investors to sell. But he warned that disappointment from tech companies or a weaker job market could change the current low-fear environment.

Retail investors keep buying when prices dip. This helps keep fear spikes short, especially while data suggests more Federal Reserve rate cuts and continued economic growth. That could shift if joblessness and rising prices get bad enough to stop these buyers.

Antoine Porcheret handles institutional structuring for the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Citigroup Inc. He said retail traders have been a big part of the buy-the-dip strategy. “So that is a risk if those buyers disappear, which can happen with rising unemployment if they have less disposable income,” he explained.

Market structure changes draw attention

Analysts at UBS Group AG noted that zero-day-to-expiry options recently created a shorter gamma profile. This could cause bigger swings during the trading day as dealers adjust their positions.

Traders are also watching VIX dealer positions and exchange-traded products tied to the index. These products have seen money leave recently. When people cash out volatility bets during market stress, it can soften VIX jumps. With lighter positions now, that steadying effect might weaken, possibly making the VIX react more sharply.

The hedging activity comes as Chinese tech stocks continue rallying despite economic challenges. As reported by Cryptopolitan previously,  China has announced plans to invest up to 70 billion dollars in its domestic chip industry, positioning itself as a serious rival to American technology firms.

AI and robotics advances have pushed Chinese tech shares higher this year, even as the broader economy faces headwinds from weak consumer spending and a struggling property sector. Market watchers note this self-sufficiency push has shifted investor perspectives on Chinese companies.

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John “Lick” Daghita’s sloppy story has taken an even more serious turn as ZachXBT reveals that his father allegedly owns CMDSS, a company that is currently doing work for a government agency.

According to a new tweet from onchain sleuth ZachXBT, John is not just an opportunist who happens to know how to hack and has a deep grudge against the deep state. His name is reportedly John Daghita, and he is more of a nepo-baby who may just be abusing privileges from daddy dearest. 

Zach claims John’s father is Dean Daghita, the owner of CMDSS, a company that currently holds an active US government IT contract in Virginia. That contract specifically involves providing assistance to the US Marshals Service (USMS) by helping them manage and dispose of seized or forfeited crypto assets.

It all sounds mundane at first, but it all comes together nicely when one takes into account the recent scandal linked to John Lick. The contract access his father’s company enjoys is thought to have helped John obtain some insider information or even direct access, which allowed him to steal from government-controlled wallets. 

According to Zach, it is still unclear how John may have gotten direct access. However, it is clear that he is linked to digital crimes that have seen millions vanish, and not just from government-controlled wallets. 

For now, there have been no public arrests or DOJ confirmations, but the onchain evidence has been making rounds across the Internet. Law enforcement could eventually intervene. 

John Lick Daghita’s flamboyant lifestyle outed him

Up until two days ago, John Lick had avoided detection. He had over $20 million in crypto wallets. However, things started to unravel when he got into a heated argument with another threat actor known as Dritan Kapplani Jr. in a group chat to see who had more funds in crypto wallets.

By the time the showoff session wrapped up, John had flaunted $23 million in total, moving the funds between wallets ZachXBT claims he clearly controls. 

After that, Zach began tracing backwards to verify the source of funds and found that one of the wallets, the 0xc7a2 wallet, had previously received $24.9 million from a U.S. government wallet back in March 2024. 

That transaction was linked to funds the government seized in the Bitfinex hack, and Zach had already flagged that same address in a post from October 2024. Another wallet was linked, the 0xd8bc wallet, which goes back to $63 million obtained from sketchy wallets during Q4 2025. 

John just enjoys showing off

According to reports, it was only a matter of time before this happened, given how much John loves to show off. The Telegram account linked to him reportedly has a long history of bragging about his riches and brokeshaming people.

His username is tied to TG ID 8269661864. After he was outed by Zach, he allegedly wiped out his NFT usernames and quickly changed his screen name, but the damage was already done. 

Zach later revealed that there are rumors circulating in cybercrime Telegram circles indicating John could be John Daghitia, who had previously been arrested in September 2025. He did concede that more research was needed to fully confirm it. 

Since he made the link between John and his father, Zach claims the CMDSS company X account, website, & LinkedIn were all deactivated, and John Daghita (Lick) began trolling again on Telegram shortly after.

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Cheap cryptocurrencies with real development timelines tend to go unnoticed during their early stages. It is usually only after pricing data, audits and roadmap execution become visible that serious attention arrives. A similar pattern is forming around one new crypto that has quietly appreciated 300% since 2025. Analysts who track early-stage DeFi assets say the project is now entering the post-visibility stage where price projections begin to form based on upcoming utility rather than pure narrative.

Presale Data Shows Steady Investor Participation

The cryptocurrency in question is Mutuum Finance (MUTM). MUTM presale began in early 2025 with a starting price of $0.01. The current presale price sits at $0.04, marking a 300% appreciation for the earliest participants. The project has now raised $19.9M while onboarding 18,900 investors. From the 4B supply, 1.82B tokens or 45.5% have been allocated for early access, and 830M tokens have been sold.

Mutuum Finance is now moving through Phase 7 of its presale with more than 6% of the phase already allocated. The launch price is set at $0.06, which positions current buyers at a discount to expected listing value according to the project’s pricing schedule. Market observers note that late presale phases often accelerate as more data becomes public, because valuation uncertainty decreases while pricing remains below launch levels.

What Mutuum Finance Is Building

Mutuum Finance is developing a decentralized lending platform that allows users to supply assets for APY and open collateralized borrowing positions using digital collateral. The platform routes both supply and borrowing into a unified revenue system. Borrowers generate fees that go to the protocol, while suppliers receive mtTokens that track their position and payout rate.

mtTokens can also be staked in the safety module, where users earn MUTM purchased from the open market. A portion of protocol revenue funds those purchases. This buy-and-redistribute model introduces a direct link between borrowing activity and token demand. Analysts like this design because it connects token performance to protocol usage rather than short-term sentiment.

Security has been a strong part of the project’s roadmap. Mutuum Finance completed a full audit with Halborn Security and holds a 90 out of 100 token scan score from CertiK. For a lending protocol that deals with collateral and liquidation logic, external audits are considered essential by industry researchers.

Stablecoin, Oracles and Analyst Price Models

Mutuum Finance also plans to issue an overcollateralized stablecoin that allows users to borrow without selling their assets. Stablecoin borrowers tend to be longer-duration users, which increases revenue visibility for the protocol and helps stabilize APY payout schedules. Layer-2 expansion is also on the roadmap to reduce fees and attract users who avoid higher gas costs on Ethereum Mainnet.

The protocol will rely on oracles to feed price data into collateral and liquidation systems. Oracle feeds are considered critical for lending platforms since inaccurate prices can trigger forced liquidations during volatile markets.

Some analysts believe that once V1 is released and the team successfully prepares the Mainnet rollout, the token could begin its first major repricing phase. Mainnet activation is expected to align with the official MUTM launch. Under that scenario, several analysts model MUTM in the $0.20 to $0.30 range during 2026. From the current $0.04 presale price, that would represent roughly a 400% to 650% increase under bullish conditions.

Phase Progression and Whale Allocations

Mutuum Finance has confirmed that its V1 protocol is scheduled for the Sepolia testnet in Q1 2026 with ETH and USDT as the first supported assets. V1 will introduce collateral management, liquidation bots, debt tokens and mtToken accounting in a simulated environment before the Mainnet rollout.

Phase 7 continues to advance quickly as more participants enter the presale. Reports of $100K whale allocations during 24-hour periods have appeared, alongside consistent leaderboard activity. The 24-hour leaderboard rewards the top buyer with $500 in MUTM, which has kept participation steady rather than clustered into single days.

Whale activity is noteworthy because large buyers tend to wait for audits, development updates and payment access to be visible before entering. Their presence during later phases signals that the project has transitioned from narrative to validation. For investors asking what crypto to invest in for upcoming cycles, analysts say this discovery phase is often when valuation frameworks begin to form and when long-term positioning takes place.

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

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

Coinbase’s CEO, Brian Armstrong, claims that the leader of a top 10 global bank now views crypto as their “number one priority” and an “existential” necessity, as he reported a few themes and personal takeaways from the week-long World Economic Forum on his X account. 

Brian Armstrong, the CEO of the leading exchange Coinbase, shared on X that tokenization was an important topic at the World Economic Forum in Davos. He also stated that crypto leaders are devoted to making the CLARITY Act a win for consumers. 

Global banks are pivoting towards crypto 

After a week of high-level meetings at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong shared a series of updates on the social media platform, X. 

During the event, Armstrong met with various world leaders and Fortune 500 CEOs. In one specific meeting, a CEO of a top 10 global bank told Armstrong that cryptocurrency is now their top priority. This executive described the technology as “existential.”

Armstrong highlighted that the Trump administration is actively working to create a “crypto hub” in the U.S. by passing the CLARITY Act. 

Investors and tech leaders have frequently questioned whether the U.S. can move fast enough to beat international competition. Armstrong stated that the current administration is committed to getting “market structure done, and done correctly.” 

China and several other nations are making rapid progress with their own stablecoin projects and digital currencies. To remain competitive, U.S. officials are meeting with industry leaders in both Washington, D.C., and Davos to finalize drafts of the law. 

Armstrong mentioned that most bank CEOs he spoke with are “pro-crypto” and see the new regulations as an opportunity rather than a hurdle.

Recent reports from Washington suggest that the focus on “stablecoin clarity” is a priority for both parties. Lawmakers want to ensure that the U.S. dollar remains the primary currency used in digital trade, and so they hope to bring “money back into people’s pockets” and attract the world’s leading blockchain developers.

Why are global banks and AI developers turning to stablecoins?

Armstrong also observed that AI and crypto were the two most discussed technologies at the forum. He stated that they are “highly complementary” because of how modern software operates.

As AI agents become more common, they will need a way to pay for services, as they cannot go to a bank, an account and pass traditional “Know Your Customer” (KYC) checks like a human. Armstrong explained that these agents will likely use stablecoins as their default payment method. The infrastructure for this already exists, and the usage is growing quickly.

Financial leaders are looking to turn every asset class into digital tokens on a blockchain. Armstrong predicts that this will democratize investments for 4 billion adults called the “unbrokered” who currently lack access to traditional brokerage accounts. 

Coinbase and Circle recently announced a partnership with the government of Bermuda to build a fully digital economy that other nations can eventually copy. 

Under the influence of new WEF co-chair Larry Fink, the focus of the forum in Davos has shifted away from ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) toward “real, global progress” and technological productivity.

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Bitcoin crashed to $87,880, dumping over $60 million in leveraged longs in just 30 minutes, with liquidations led by BTC, ETH, and SOL.

A U.S. government shutdown is now expected, and President Trump has threatened 100% tariffs on Canada.

Altcoins are deep in red, with Ethereum down -2.57%, Solana -3.88%, XRP -3.82%, and even BNB dropping -2.28%, despite inflows.

Trump has sued JPMorgan Chase and its CEO Jamie Dimon for $5 billion, accusing them of shutting down his personal and business accounts because of his political views.

The lawsuit, filed on Thursday, claims the bank targeted him and his companies intentionally. This legal attack comes straight from the top. Trump, who returned to the White House in 2025, is now going directly after the same financial giants that were once seen as winners under his deregulation plans.

This isn’t his first complaint. Trump has warned for years that major banks are cutting off conservatives. He’s finally doing something about it. His lawyers argue this is political targeting.

The bank says that’s not true. In a statement, JPMorgan said, “We believe the suit has no merit. We respect the President’s right to sue us and our right to defend ourselves. JPMC does not close accounts for political or religious reasons.”

Trump hits JPMorgan, Capital One, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs

The fight isn’t just with one bank. Trump’s company is also suing Capital One, claiming the bank closed its accounts for political reasons. On top of that, he went after Bank of America’s Brian Moynihan, saying they refused to give him an account. He even blasted Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon last year for the bank’s view on tariffs.

Back in 2018, Jamie Dimon told a panel he “could beat Trump” in an election because he was “as tough” and “smarter.” He took it back almost immediately. Trump didn’t let it slide. He called Dimon “a poor public speaker and a nervous mess” online. The tension has never really faded. These days, Dimon chooses his words carefully.

In Davos, he said he agreed with some of Trump’s policies, disagreed with others, and stayed quiet when asked why CEOs don’t challenge the president more.

But that didn’t stop him from criticizing Trump’s idea to cap credit card interest rates at 10%. On a call, he said it would hit subprime borrowers “dramatically.” He also warned against launching a criminal probe into Jerome Powell, calling it “not a good idea.” Trump fired back at Dimon. “Jamie Dimon probably wants higher rates. Maybe he makes more money that way,” he told reporters on January 15.

Kush Desai, a White House spokesman, defended the administration’s direction. “The Trump administration is delivering by shoring up financial markets and cutting unnecessary red tape to accelerate growth,” he said.

Banks increase lobbying while waiting for $200B capital boost

Even with lawsuits coming at them, the biggest banks still expect big wins. Federal regulators under Trump are preparing to release up to $200 billion in capital relief.

That means more room to lend, invest, and approve big mergers. The banks are also happy that regulators are loosening up supervision rules.

But behind the scenes, these banks are spending big to protect their turf. In the fourth quarter of 2025, the top eight lenders dropped nearly $12 million on lobbying, a 40% increase from the same time in 2024. They’re sending teams to Congress, the White House, and every major agency that touches banking rules. They want influence over everything from swipe fees to crypto regulation.

They’ve also backed a new group called the American Growth Alliance, set up in December by the Financial Services Forum. The group plans to spend tens of millions pushing for what they call “commonsense” growth policies.

Still, the industry feels under pressure. Todd Baker, a fellow at Columbia University, said, “The industry is losing as many battles as it wins on big issues, and the constant pressure and random nature of developments is taking its toll.”

Nicholas Anthony, from the Cato Institute, added, “Banks probably will be more cautious moving forward after seeing this reaction, seeing that they’re no longer just under threat of regulatory retaliation but also lawsuits.”

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FX desks are opening the week on edge after Japan’s government sent a clear warning that recent currency moves have gone too far, putting traders on alert for possible intervention aimed at stopping the yen slide.

Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae said action was on the table if trading turns speculative and abnormal, a line that immediately changed market behavior after weeks of one‑way positioning.

Tension spiked late Friday during US trading when dealers said the Federal Reserve Bank of New York reached out to financial institutions to ask about the yen exchange rate.

That single move was enough to rattle positions. Japan’s top currency official had already refused earlier that day to say whether Tokyo had carried out its own rate check, keeping markets guessing and pushing volatility higher into the close.

US rate checks jolt FX desks and squeeze short positions

Talk of intervention gathered pace after reports of the New York Fed’s calls circulated across trading floors. Michael Brown at Pepperstone said rate checks are usually the final warning before action and added that the Takaichi administration shows far less patience for speculative FX moves than past governments. That message landed fast.

Traders who had built heavy short exposure were forced to rethink. Short positions linked to the yen had grown to their largest level in more than ten years. As the week ended, the currency swung sharply. It reversed a drop toward levels last seen in 2024 and surged as much as 1.75 percent to 155.63 per dollar. That move marked the biggest one‑day gain since August and left many positions underwater.

Takaichi addressed the issue directly on Sunday during a televised debate with party leaders. She said it was not her role to comment on matters decided by markets but stressed that all necessary steps would be taken to deal with speculative and highly abnormal moves.

She did not name a specific market, but officials in recent days have flagged risks tied to bond yields as well as the yen.

Long‑dated Japanese government bonds had already sent warning signs. Yields on the longest maturities jumped to record highs early last week before pulling back, adding pressure on policymakers as currency swings and debt costs collided.

Nick Twidale of AT Global Markets said traders should stay cautious at the Monday open after Takaichi’s comments. He said Japan’s currency could trade near 155 per dollar at the start of the week, a level now watched closely after last week’s violent reversal.

Election pressure and US coordination reshape intervention risks

The rebound began soon after Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda wrapped up his post‑decision press conference on Friday. Hours later, finance ministry official Atsushi Mimura declined to say whether authorities had stepped in to support the yen, keeping the door wide open to speculation.

Gains accelerated through the US session as Wall Street interpreted the rate checks as groundwork for possible intervention, with some traders even pricing in the chance of US participation.

Twidale said the market still wants to stay short but will tread carefully given the official warnings. He added that any confirmed US involvement would have effects far beyond the yen, spilling into global markets.

Some traders drew comparisons to the Plaza Accord of 1985, when major economies coordinated to weaken the dollar. Debate around fixing imbalances tied to persistent dollar strength had already surfaced more than a year ago, making the idea less far‑fetched.

The US has stepped into currency markets only three times since 1996, according to New York Fed data. The last case came in 2011, when G7 nations sold the yen together after Japan’s earthquake to stabilize trading.

Anthony Doyle at Pinnacle Investment Management said Japan cannot fix the yen alone without risking domestic strain or global fallout, which makes coordination more realistic. He said calls from the US Treasury usually signal the story has moved beyond normal FX noise.

Tokyo has history here. The government spent nearly $100 billion buying the yen in 2024. Each of the four interventions happened near 160 per dollar, turning that level into an informal trigger point.

Homin Lee at Lombard Odier said real action is required if authorities want to anchor USD/JPY and noted that joint steps by Japan and the US would stand out as unusually direct coordination.

Lee added that 160 is a clean number that cuts through political noise ahead of Japan’s snap lower‑house election in February. Japan votes on Feb. 8, and Takaichi’s pledge to cut food taxes has already shaken the debt market.

The 40‑year bond yield jumped past 4 percent, a level not seen since its 2007 launch and a first for any sovereign maturity in more than thirty years.

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The memory trade is pulling in capital fast as chip shortages collide with nonstop AI demand. Storage and chip stocks are climbing hard while investors look past fading megacap rallies and hunt for the next place where cash flow still looks tight.

This corner of tech used to bore investors. Storage was slow, dull, and ignored. That changed as AI spending surged.

The global AI infrastructure push is now expected to pass $500bn this year. While megacap stocks stalled, storage-linked names ripped higher, turning an overlooked market into one of the loudest trades on the board.

Chip shortages push prices and stocks higher

SanDisk shares have nearly doubled since January and climbed almost 1,100 per cent since August last year. Micron and Western Digital tripled in that same window.

SK Hynix did the same. The rally delivered billions in gains to hedge funds that moved early, including DE Shaw and Arrowstreet Capital.

Arun Sai of Pictet Asset Management called the run extreme, saying, “By any measure, that’s an eye-watering few months.” He added that the AI story now centers on memory as the main bottleneck in long-term capital spending.

The rally picked up again after Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang said “holding the working memory of the world’s AIs” could soon become “the largest storage market in the world.”

His comments pushed more money into the sector as traders reassessed what limits AI growth.

Micron, SK Hynix, and Samsung dominate the supply of fast solid-state chips that feed Nvidia processors.

These chips keep large AI systems running, including models behind ChatGPT. As AI tools grew more advanced, data usage exploded. That surge lifted demand for flash products sold by SanDisk and similar firms.

Because this type of memory costs more, demand spilled into older systems too. Western Digital and Seagate saw stronger interest in magnetic hard drives as buyers looked for cheaper ways to store rising data volumes.

Rene Haas of Arm said demand had jumped fast. “The use for this high-bandwidth memory has just exploded,” he said in Davos, calling demand “an insatiable need.”

Investors rotate as hedge funds lock in gains

Manufacturers remain cautious. The memory market swings between shortage and surplus every few years. New factories cost billions and take years. Companies are holding back, even as demand runs hot. That restraint tightened supply further.

Richard Clode of Janus Henderson compared it to raw materials. “Like any other commodity, you end up with pricing just going berserk,” he said. Ben Bajarin of Creative Strategies expects shortages to last until “2028 at least.”

The investor shift comes as the megacap rally lost steam. The S&P 500 surge slowed after a mid-November sell-off tied to valuation fears and heavy spending.

Nvidia still trades 11 per cent below its October peak, despite becoming the world’s first $5tn company last year. Among hyperscalers like Oracle, Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon, only Alphabet reached new highs since November.

Sai said the market changed tone. “The AI trade is no longer just about holding a basket of exposed names. The market has turned more discerning between winners and losers.”

Hedge fund filings show aggressive bets on the memory theme. DE Shaw raised its stakes in SanDisk, Micron, Seagate, and Western Digital last quarter. Holding those positions through today would have delivered about $3.9bn in gains.

Arrowstreet added SanDisk and Seagate and would have earned $1.3bn. Renaissance Technologies doubled its SanDisk position and raised Western Digital holdings fivefold, booking roughly $435mn if held.

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Most of the best performing crypto assets are found much earlier than they enter their maximum utility window. Projects that pass through the development cycles and not through social attention would be found by investors that follow development cycles. Analysts indicate that the trend is repeating itself with one new cryptocurrency surging over 300% since the first quarter of the 2025 and is now drawing much more attention than in the silent build phase.

What Mutuum Finance Is Developing

Mutuum Finance (MUTM) is the construction of a decentralized lending program with formalized borrowing and collateral repayment policies. Mutuum Finance has two lending markets. APY is earned by lenders in the pooled market by supplying assets in the form of mTokens. The pool is used by the borrowers to access liquidity using collateral at determined loan to value ratios like 50% and 75%. 

The direct matching market (P2P) is one where users match but use different collateral rules and do not take advantage of a common liquidity source. The two markets enable users to access the liquidity without technically selling original assets hence becoming a common request in DeFi. 

The official X statement of the team states that V1 will have its release in Q1 2026 in the Sepolia testnet. This will bring collateral logic, liquidation systems, debt accounting and support ETH and USDT. Another finding that appears to be a requirement of lending protocols was done by the independent audit conducted by Halborn Security on Mutuum Finance.

First Pricing Signals

The participation has increased as the protocol has progressed by levels of development. Mutuum Finance has deployed 18,900 investors and has raised $19.9M. According to analysts, this involvement is important since lending rules require a user base to grow before the activity of borrowing can reach a scale. Lending platforms tend to fail to fulfill their first utility stage unless their onboarding is done early.

MUTM presale began at the beginning of 2025 at $0.01 and is currently selling at $0.04. This is a 300% increment amongst early entrants. This kind of appreciation in the build phase according to researchers following new crypto projects indicates that capital is positioning ahead of V1 and not waiting to be fully activated. This is being perceived by many investors as the indication of a premature discovery process that is developing.

Mutuum Finance contains a 4B MUTM supply. Out of that supply, 45.5% or 1.82B tokens will be distributed to the community. So far, 830M tokens have been sold. According to analysts, this is striking in two aspects. To begin with, it is a large distribution model, which lowers concentration. Second, it enhances the participation of the network at an early stage, which lending protocols demand to facilitate the volume of future borrowing.

Security and Stablecoin Plans

The other triggering point has been the security validation. In addition to the Halborn audit, Mutuum Finance is scored 90 out of 100 on CertiK token scan and has a $50,000 bug bounty program. Procedures of lending are based on correct liquidation and collateral data which makes the audits and bounty programs more of an obligatory procedure, and not a marketing feature.

An overcollateralized stablecoin is also in the roadmap. Users will be in a position to mint a stablecoin without selling original assets. Analysts writing on DeFi cryptocurrency exchanges observe that the duration of stablecoin borrowing will be higher since users trade in stable coins to hedge and manage their portfolios. This predictable pattern has the ability to grow fee consistency and this could enhance APY to lenders when borrowing grows.

Phase 7 has been progressing more than the previous stages. One instance that the market observers cited was a recent whale investment of $100K. According to analysts, the acceleration is important since Phase advancement causes the token pricing to rise as allocations are filled. This is creating an urgency amongst new entrants because the supply is becoming tight. 

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

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

Wall Street faces a critical week as dozens of big-name companies prepare to release their quarterly results, which could push stocks higher or signal new troubles ahead after recent market turbulence.

The coming days feature earnings from a mix of tech giants and industrial powerhouses, giving investors a broad look at how the economy is holding up. Tech firms will show what’s happening with artificial intelligence and gadget sales, while manufacturers will shed light on production and international commerce.

Start of the week

Several household names start the parade early in the week. General Motors has beaten Wall Street predictions for 13 straight quarters, and analysts expect the automaker to keep that streak alive. Boeing also reports as it works through its comeback, with observers looking for strong sales numbers.

The middle of the week brings the heaviest lineup. Starbucks plans to discuss efforts to boost how its stores are running and serving customers. Three technology powerhouses follow later Wednesday: Microsoft, Tesla, and Meta Platforms.

Microsoft’s numbers will spotlight its Azure cloud division and artificial intelligence offerings. Tesla’s report comes with uncertainty around how many vehicles it’s building and selling. Meta needs to prove its ad business still works and that users haven’t abandoned its apps.

Caterpillar and Apple close out the week

Thursday morning belongs to Caterpillar, which just wrapped up one of its best years ever. The maker of bulldozers and construction machines has benefited as data centers get built and infrastructure work spreads nationwide.

Wall Street thinks profits will dip a bit from earlier periods, but expectations remain high after the company’s strong run. What executives say about future orders will matter most.

Caterpillar carries extra weight because its fortunes typically match the broader economy. Its business touches worldwide growth and building projects everywhere.

Apple delivers its report on Thursday after trading ends, following a notable slide in its share price lately. Even with the recent drop, experts feel optimistic about steady iPhone demand and revenue from services climbing in the double digits.

Some reports suggest the company may have increased production targets, which could lead to better-than-expected results. Business in China appears solid despite ongoing concerns about that market.

Past patterns show Apple stock frequently falls right after the company reports earnings. But when the underlying business looks solid, shares can jump sharply afterward. The services division and loyal customers provide lasting advantages.

Apple’s figures will clearly indicate if shoppers are still opening their wallets, with iPhone sales and store activity painting a picture of consumer strength worldwide.

Bigger picture emerges

A few common threads run through all these reports. Artificial intelligence keeps influencing results, especially for cloud and software businesses.

Recent figures show corporate America is nearing its ninth straight quarter of year-over-year profit increases. That represents impressive resilience during uncertain economic times.

Yet the S&P 500 fell over the past week, showing how quickly optimism can evaporate. Disappointing numbers from key players like Apple and Caterpillar could either support continued confidence or spark new anxiety about what lies ahead.

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The stock market delivered positive returns during Donald Trump’s first year back as president, but the gains fell short compared to other recent presidential terms, marking the slowest start for any president in two decades.

Market indexes climbed 13.3% between inauguration day and January 20, 2026, according to data from CFRA Research seen by CNN. While these returns appear solid on their own, they represent the smallest first-year increase for a president since George W. Bush began his second term in 2005. The performance also trailed Trump’s own previous record, during his initial term as president, markets jumped 24.1% in the first twelve months.

Investors pushed stocks upward throughout the year, continuing a rally fueled largely by excitement surrounding artificial intelligence technology. Meanwhile, foreign markets beat U.S. stocks in 2025, a shift that hadn’t occurred in several years.

However, the market didn’t start from scratch. Trump took office following two consecutive years where the S&P 500 had climbed more than 20% annually, a streak not seen since the 1990s. This meant expectations were already elevated when his second term began.

Tariff turmoil triggers historic volatility spike

The past year brought significant uncertainty as the administration changed direction repeatedly on key policies. Markets dropped close to bear market territory in April when confusion over tariff plans spooked investors. Prices then bounced back sharply after Trump stepped away from his harshest proposed measures. Overall, the S&P 500 hit 39 all-time highs during the year. By comparison, the index reached 62 record peaks in 2017 during Trump’s first year in office.

Trump has shown he pays attention to market movements and sees them as a measure of how well his presidency is going. This week, he dismissed recent market declines tied to concerns about Greenland and tariffs as “peanuts,” predicting the market would soon be “doubled.” Hours after those comments, he pulled back on tariff threats, which helped stocks recover.

Several factors supported market growth in 2025. The artificial intelligence sector remained a major draw for investors. People felt optimistic about potential Federal Reserve interest rate reductions. Company profits stayed strong. The economy held up better than many expected. Trump also signed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” during the summer months. The economic boost from that legislation could help markets continue rising this year.

“The front-end loading of this stimulus is a big reason why the stock market did well the first year of this term,” Matt Maley, chief market strategist at Miller Tabak + Co, wrote in an email.

Maley added that many investors believe the president plans to “let the economy run hot” through the midterm elections. While this doesn’t guarantee the second year will match the first year’s performance, he noted the administration clearly wants markets performing well this year, particularly in the five to six months before those elections.

Fear gauge hits pandemic levels

The year brought both gains and wild swings. The VIX, which measures how worried Wall Street feels, spiked to levels not seen since the pandemic when tariff confusion peaked in spring.

“The only truly exceptional thing was that the VIX went over 50 for the first time since the pandemic during the height of trade policy uncertainty,” Nick Colas, co-founder at DataTrek Research, explained in an email.

Tim Thomas, chief investment officer at Badgley Phelps Wealth Management, said he’s shifted some client accounts to be more “defensive” with less risky holdings. But he’s ultimately looking beyond short-term price swings and concentrating on fundamentals like earnings growth, the AI boom, and helpful government policies.

“The market performance last year was pretty good,” Thomas said. “There is a lot of policy uncertainty out there. Policy uncertainty is hard to invest around, because, by its very nature, it can change in an instant.”

After three straight years of strong performance, Wall Street experts generally expect the S&P 500 to keep climbing this year. But questions remain. The U.S. dollar has struggled recently while safe investments like gold and silver keep hitting new highs.

Jim Hagerty, CEO at Bartlett Wealth Management, told his main lesson from the past year is that investors need to stay disciplined.

“When markets have been really good, or occasionally when they’re scary, it can tempt people away from their disciplines,” Hagerty said. “I would just emphasize: stay disciplined.”

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Retail investors often look for assets that offer stronger appreciation potential rather than slow, large-cap performance. With many major cryptocurrencies now priced at high valuations, analysts say the rotation toward lower-cost tokens has returned. Two names currently appear in these discussions: Shiba Inu (SHIB) and a cheaper altcoin called Mutuum Finance (MUTM) which has been gaining attention ahead of its protocol launch.

Shiba Inu (SHIB)

Shiba Inu remains one of the most recognized meme tokens in the market. SHIB trades near $0.000009 with a market cap above $5B which places it firmly in the mid to upper tier of crypto assets. SHIB surged in earlier cycles due to strong community narratives, viral momentum and speculative rotations. However, analysts say the token now faces a valuation ceiling due to its size and lower breakout strength.

Charts show resistance levels near $0.000011 and $0.000014 which have been difficult to clear during previous rallies. Breaking those zones would require increased volume and renewed attention. Price forecasts shared by several analysts for 2026–2027 show SHIB reaching only modest upside bands due to liquidity gravity. Under a bullish scenario, SHIB could push toward $0.000015 which represents a small percentage gain relative to emerging assets at lower valuations.

Mutuum Finance (MUTM)

The altcoin gaining attention for 2026 allocations is Mutuum Finance (MUTM). The project is developing a decentralized lending protocol that lets users earn APY on supplied assets while accessing liquidity without selling their holdings. Borrowing is collateralized, and risk is managed through predefined loan-to-value settings and liquidation safeguards.

The protocol supports both pooled lending and direct borrowing markets. For example, a user holding ETH could borrow stablecoins at a 60% LTV ratio. If ETH drops in price and the position moves toward the liquidation threshold, the system steps in to protect lenders and keep the pool solvent. This structure introduces rules and predictability, which analysts say is often a requirement for long-term DeFi adoption rather than short-term speculation.

Mutuum Finance began its presale in early 2025 at $0.01 and now trades at $0.04 in Phase 7. The presale has raised $19.9M and onboarded more than 18,900 holders. Roughly 830M MUTM tokens have been sold so far. From the 4B supply, 1.82B tokens or 45.5% are allocated for presale access. Analysts tracking new crypto cycles say this structured distribution is more utility-focused compared with meme assets which rely on attention-driven breakout attempts.

Why Investors Prefer MUTM in Allocation Scenarios

Analysts comparing SHIB and MUTM note that the difference is not narrative versus narrative, but narrative versus utility. SHIB relies on speculation and community activity. MUTM relies on lending, borrowing and yield mechanics that can support future protocol revenue. For investors choosing between the two with a $1,000 allocation, the math also differs.

A $1,000 SHIB allocation at $0.000009 buys roughly 111,000,000 tokens. If SHIB reaches the bullish band near $0.000015, that position would be worth around $1,665 which equals a modest gain for the amount of effort to get there.

A $1,000 MUTM allocation at $0.04 buys 25,000 tokens. Several experts outline scenarios in which MUTM trades between $0.18 and $0.30 during 2026 after its V1 protocol activation with mainnet launch as planned. As long as MUTM reaches $0.18, the same allocation would be worth $4,500. At $0.30, it would be worth $7,500. These scenarios highlight why some investors seek higher growth exposure in earlier-stage utility tokens.

Timing and Rotation Behavior

An interesting trend noted by analysts is that several early SHIB investors have begun rotating toward MUTM. The reason is not dissatisfaction with SHIB, but recognition that meme assets often deliver their strongest returns early in the cycle, while utility assets deliver theirs later as protocols activate. 

Mutuum Finance (MUTM) confirmed on its official X account that its V1 protocol is scheduled for the Sepolia testnet in Q1 2026. This launch window has acted as a timing signal for investors who position before borrowing activity becomes visible.

SHIB remains a popular community token, but its forward appreciation potential may be limited by its size and liquidity requirements. Mutuum Finance represents the opposite allocation profile: early valuation, development milestones and upcoming protocol activation. When deciding what cryptocurrency to buy with $1,000, analysts say the distinction between mature meme assets and early utility assets will likely define performance into 2026.

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

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

Americans have started bringing artificial intelligence into their daily work routines at speeds that caught many by surprise, new polling data shows.

A fresh Gallup Workforce survey reveals that 12% of working adults now turn to AI every single day on the job. The research, which questioned more than 22,000 employed Americans this fall, shows how quickly these tools have spread through offices and workplaces nationwide.

Around one in four workers tap into AI at least several times each week, the survey found. Close to half reported using these technologies at least a handful of times annually. That marks a big jump from 2023, when just 21% said they used AI even occasionally. The shift comes after ChatGPT kicked off a massive surge in AI tools that can handle tasks like drafting emails, writing code, boiling down lengthy reports, making images, and fielding questions.

Gene Walinski, who works at a Home Depot in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, represents this new wave of AI users. The 70-year-old pulls out his phone about once every hour during his shift to ask an AI assistant about products in the electrical department when he runs into items he doesn’t know inside and out.

“I think my job would suffer if I couldn’t because there would be a lot of shrugged shoulders and ‘I don’t know’ and customers don’t want to hear that,” Walinski explained.

Technology workers stand at the front of the AI adoption wave

Around 6 out of every 10 people in tech jobs use AI several times weekly, with roughly 3 in 10 using it daily. The numbers show a big increase since 2023, though signs point to growth possibly leveling off after the sharp spike between 2024 and 2025.

Finance workers have also jumped on board. Andrea Tanzi, a 28-year-old investment banker at Bank of America in New York, uses AI daily to process documents and data that would otherwise eat up hours of his time. He also relies on the bank’s internal AI assistant, Erica, for routine administrative work.

Most people working in professional services, colleges and universities, or elementary and high school education now use AI at least occasionally throughout the year.

Joyce Hatzidakis, a 60-year-old high school art teacher in Riverside, California, began testing AI chatbots to polish up messages she sends to parents.

“I can scribble out a note and not worry about what I say and then tell it what tone I want,” she said. “And then, when I reread it, if it’s not quite right, I can have it edited again. I’m definitely getting less parent complaints.”

Another Gallup survey from last year found that about 6 in 10 workplace AI users depend on chatbots or virtual helpers. Around 4 in 10 tap AI to pull together information, spark ideas, or pick up new skills.

Hatzidakis started with ChatGPT before moving to Google’s Gemini when her school district chose it as the official platform. She’s even used it for writing recommendation letters, noting “there’s only so many ways to say a kid is really creative.”

Both the AI business world and the U.S. government keep pushing for more AI use in workplaces and schools. Companies need more buyers to make sense of the enormous sums poured into building and running power-hungry AI systems. But experts disagree on whether these tools will actually lift productivity or hurt job prospects.

“Most of the workers that are most highly exposed to AI, who are most likely to have it disrupt their workflows, for good or for bad, have these characteristics that make them pretty adaptable,” said Sam Manning, a fellow at the Centre for the Governance of AI.

Manning noted these computer-based workers usually have more education, broader skill sets, and bigger savings to help them weather job loss.

Millions face AI disruption without safety net

However, Manning’s research identified about 6.1 million American workers who face heavy AI exposure but lack the tools to adapt easily. Many handle administrative and clerical duties, roughly 86% are women, and they tend to be older and live in smaller cities like college towns or state capitals with fewer career options.

“If their skills are automated, they have less transferable skills to other jobs and they have a lower savings, if any savings,” Manning said.

A separate 2025 Gallup survey found that few employees think new technology, automation, robots, or AI will likely wipe out their jobs within five years. Half said it’s not at all likely, down slightly from about 6 in 10 in 2023.

Rev. Michael Bingham, pastor at Faith Community Methodist Church in Jacksonville, Florida, isn’t worried. A chatbot gave him nonsense when he asked about medieval theologian Anselm of Canterbury, and he said he’d never ask a “soulless” machine to help write sermons.

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Google has rolled out a series of changes to Android phones, bringing small but meaningful improvements to typing and search functions, while reports suggest the tech company may soon extend a key security feature to Samsung devices.

The most noticeable change affects Gboard, Google’s keyboard application for Android phones. Users who press the apostrophe key will now find themselves back at the letter screen right away, rather than remaining stuck on the symbols page. This brings Gboard in line with what Samsung’s default keyboard and Apple’s iPhone keyboard have done for some time.

Beyond the keyboard fix, Android is getting a bigger visual overhaul through Material 3 Expressive. The update brings several changes to how the operating system looks. Users will notice a split design for notifications and quick settings, increased blur effects throughout the interface, and close to thirty new design elements that change shape. The overall result is meant to feel less crowded with better use of empty space.

Economic pressures drive software polish

These updates come at a difficult moment for the smartphone industry. Reports from January 2026 indicate the worldwide smartphone market faces shrinking sales, with shipments expected to drop 2.1% over the course of the year. The main reason is what analysts call an “AI memory crunch.” Companies running AI data centers are buying up high-bandwidth memory for servers, leaving less available for consumer products. This shortage has pushed RAM and storage component costs up by 40% to 50%.

For Google, making the interface look and work better is about more than just appearance. With hardware expenses climbing, the average selling price for phones is set to jump 6.9% compared to last year. Research firm Counterpoint notes that memory chips now make up 18% to 20% of what it costs to build high-end phones. By closing the gap with Apple through improvements like the Gboard update, Google hopes to give consumers software quality that makes sense with higher prices, especially as people keep their phones longer before upgrading.

Google has also changed how voice search appears on Android. The familiar four-dot pattern that showed up during voice commands is gone. In its place sits a gradient version of Google’s “G” logo. When the system listens to a user, a four-color curved line shows on screen to indicate it’s working.

The feature for identifying music has been redesigned as well. Instead of a globe made of colored dots, users now see a larger button that says “Search a song.” This tool can figure out what song is playing, whether someone plays it, sings it, or hums the tune. These voice features can be accessed through the microphone icon in the Google app, the search widget on home screens, or the Pixel Launcher on Pixel phones.

Sharing security technology

Analysis of Google’s application code by Android Authority has revealed clues that scam detection might soon arrive on Samsung’s Galaxy S26 series. The findings, attributed to the tipster AssembleDebug, point to device codenames within the Google Phone app that hint at which phones will receive the tool next. This security feature currently works only on Pixel devices and uses Gemini artificial intelligence to shield users from fraudulent phone calls. Samsung already features Gemini prominently on phones like the Galaxy S25 when users first set them up.

The tipster reportedly found device codenames in Google’s Phone app code after a recent update that hint at which phones will receive scam detection next. If true, this signals Google spreading its AI-powered safety features beyond its own products to boost Android’s standing against competing platforms. This represents a change in how Google does business. By giving Samsung access to Pixel-exclusive AI tools, Google is putting the overall Android ecosystem’s health ahead of its own phone sales.

In January 2026, Samsung co-CEO TM Roh announced plans to double Gemini-powered Galaxy devices to 800 million units by year’s end. This “Gemini Alliance” responds directly to Apple, which reached a record 20.1% market share in late 2025. With the mobile AI market heading toward a $32.35 billion valuation this year, Google and Samsung recognize they cannot compete with Apple’s integrated approach separately. By combining their software capabilities, they aim to hold onto the premium market segment where customer loyalty runs deepest and profit margins hold up best against ongoing chip supply problems.

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Writing on X in response to Justin Drake’s announcement that the Ethereum Foundation (EF) had created a dedicated post-quantum cryptography team, Franklin Bi, a general partner at Pantera Capital, challenged conventional assumptions about which sector is better positioned for the quantum transition.

“People are over-estimating how quickly Wall Street will adapt to post-quantum cryptography,” he wrote. “Like any systemic software upgrade, it’ll be slow & chaotic with single points of failure for years.”

Quantum computing continues to advance from a theoretical field to practical applications, and as more progress is being made, so is the attendant threat it poses to financial systems.

Quantum computers capable of breaking current encryption standards could expose the cryptographic foundations protecting everything from bank transactions to blockchain wallets.

Just this month, Christopher Wood, the global head of equity strategy at Jefferies, reported that he removed Bitcoin from his model portfolio. A long-term proponent for BTC’s attractiveness as a hedge against monetary debasement, the Greed & Fear newsletter author said he made the move in advance of quantum computing threats to the foundations of Bitcoin’s investment case.

Pantera’s Bi favors blockchain networks over traditional financial institutions

Bi favors blockchain because of what he calls the “unique ability of blockchains to enact a system-wide software upgrade at global scale.”

He pointed to Ethereum’s successful transition from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake in 2022—known as “The Merge”—as evidence of decentralized networks‘ readiness.

According to an earlier Cryptopolitan report, Justin Drake revealed the formation of a post-quantum team led by Thomas Coratger, elevating quantum resistance to a top priority for the blockchain.

The foundation is backing the initiative with two $1 million prizes and has already begun running multi-client post-quantum consensus test networks, with bi-weekly developer sessions now underway.

Research from Chainalysis showed that approximately $718 billion in Bitcoin addresses remain vulnerable to quantum attacks using current cryptographic schemes.

Is Wall Street ready for the quantum era?

While major institutions like JPMorgan and HSBC have initiated quantum-safe pilot programs, industry surveys reveal concerning gaps.

A recent study found that 65% of businesses claim quantum readiness, but most boards remain at the awareness stage rather than being in the active implementation phase.

The Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center warned against “crypto-procrastination” in a white paper.

Europol’s Quantum Safe Financial Forum highlighted the complexity of coordinating changes across vendors, legacy systems, and international regulatory frameworks.

Dean Yoost, former MUFG Union Bank board member, noted that artificial intelligence concerns are crowding out quantum preparedness at the board level, despite the existential nature of the cryptographic threat.

The Bank for International Settlements and the European Central Bank have both issued warnings about systemic risks from delayed action.

Traditional systems, as Bi noted, are “only as strong as their weakest links,” and the banking sector’s dependence on interconnected third-party vendors and central banks creates multiple vulnerability points and dependencies.

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A group of international plaintiffs on Friday filed a new lawsuit against Meta, claiming it lied about WhatsApp privacy and fooled users into thinking their chats were truly private.

According to the lawsuit, Meta has been secretly storing, analyzing, and accessing messages it publicly claims are “end-to-end encrypted.”

WhatsApp shows users a default privacy warning: “only people in this chat can read, listen to, or share” messages. That’s supposed to mean that not even Meta can see what users send. But the new lawsuit says that entire promise is fake, and it accuses Meta of defrauding billions of users worldwide by making them believe otherwise.

Plaintiffs say Meta misled billions about encryption

The group filing the case includes plaintiffs from Australia, Brazil, India, Mexico, and South Africa. They argue that Meta’s claims about end-to-end encryption are a complete scam, and that workers inside the company can view the content of so-called “private” WhatsApp messages. The plaintiffs say whistleblowers helped bring this to light, though they didn’t name them or explain how they got the info.

Meta bought WhatsApp in 2014 and has repeatedly claimed its platform is fully secure. But the plaintiffs say that’s all just PR spin, not real privacy.

They accuse Meta and WhatsApp of building an illusion of safety to lure in users, while in the background, the company collects and studies the messages it claims are out of reach.

Meta is not backing down. The company’s spokesperson, Andy Stone, called the entire lawsuit a joke. “Any claim that people’s WhatsApp messages are not encrypted is categorically false and absurd,” Stone said in a statement. “WhatsApp has been end-to-end encrypted using the Signal protocol for a decade. This lawsuit is a frivolous work of fiction.”

Meta says it will pursue sanctions against the plaintiffs’ lawyers.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs want this case to become a class-action lawsuit. The legal team includes attorneys from Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, Keller Postman, and Barnett Legal. Multiple lawyers declined to comment or didn’t respond to requests.

Patent fight adds pressure over smart glasses tech

As Meta deals with that lawsuit, it’s also being targeted in a separate patent fight. In Massachusetts federal court, Solos Technology Ltd. filed a complaint Friday, saying Meta and partners stole smart glasses technology and violated “core patents” that power products like the Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer Gen 1.

Solos is asking for “multiple billions of dollars” in damages. The company also wants an injunction that could stop Ray-Ban Meta products from being sold.

The filing claims Meta and EssilorLuxottica had years of access to Solos’ intellectual property, going back to at least 2015. Solos says even Oakley employees tested early versions of its hardware years before Meta got involved.

Solos built its first smart eyewear for cyclists over a decade ago. Its more recent “AirGo” models include AI-powered features like translation and ChatGPT integration. On its site, Solos says it holds over 100 patents and applications.

The lawsuit alleges that every Meta release since Gen 1 copies Solos’ tech, including the latest smart glasses built with muscle-signal technology.

Solos also says that a former MIT Sloan Fellow, Priyanka Shekar, published a 2021 study citing Solos’ patented tech. That same year, she joined Meta as a product manager. According to the lawsuit, Shekar’s work gave Meta internal access to Solos’ designs, making the alleged infringement even more deliberate.

The filing claims that by the time Meta and EssilorLuxottica launched smart glasses in 2021, they already had deep, direct knowledge of Solos’ entire roadmap. That lawsuit is now one more legal mess Meta has to clean up, while it’s still trying to convince users that WhatsApp chats aren’t being read behind their backs.

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The Korean government is looking towards regulatory actions against the generative artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot of Elon Musk-owned xAI, Grok. This follows several criticisms directed at the chatbot and its involvement in generating and distributing sexually exploitative deepfake images.

The information was reported by a local news outlet, the Electronic Times, which mentioned that the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) has launched a preliminary fact-finding review into Grok after the allegations were reported in the county by several individuals.

The preliminary process is to confirm if the violation actually occurred and whether the matter is within its jurisdiction before a formal investigation can be launched.

The Korean government to conduct a review into Grok

According to reports, the review follows several reports that surfaced locally and overseas, accusing Grok of being used to create explicit and nonconsensual deepfake images, with most of them involving real individuals and minors.

With this, the PICP will reportedly determine its next course of action after reviewing the explanation provided by Grok and other supporting documents. The agency is also expected to review global regulatory trends, which would shape its decision-making.

Under the Personal Information Protection Act, altering or generating sexual images of identifiable individuals without consent may constitute unlawful handling of personal data.

The AI chatbots, which are integrated into the social platform X and offer both text and image generation on the platform, have faced several criticisms over the creation of fake images of real people since last year. The chatbot has been used to create all sorts of compromising images, which have been frowned upon by the general public.

According to the global nongovernmental organization Center for Countering Digital Hate, Grok is estimated to have been used to generate more than three million sexually explicit images between December 29, 2025, and January 8, 2026.

The organization claims that among that number, more than 23,000 were images of minors generated using the chatbot. The center warned that the rapid spread of Grok’s AI-generated images has led to a large-scale circulation of explicit content online.

The regulator wants a report on measures taken to curb the menace

The center has also warned about the serious safety risks that the development poses to children. As a result of this menace, countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, and some others have launched investigations, while countries like Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia have blocked access to Grok.

In response to the controversy, xAI announced earlier this year that it had implemented certain technical measures to prevent it.

The platform claimed that it has stopped both free and paid users from editing or generating images of real people, adding that it would announce further safeguards very soon.

In Korea, the Media and Communications Commission (KMCC) demanded stronger youth protection measures from X on January 14. The Korean regulator told the social media platform that its AI firm needs to come up with a plan to prevent the generation of illegal or harmful content.

In addition, the regulator also added that the company needs to limit minors’ access to such content.

Currently, X has a designated youth protection officer in Korea in accordance with the law and submits annual reports on related compliance. KMCC has urged the platform to submit additional documentation regarding Grok’s safety protocol, noting that nonconsensual sexual images created and distributed on its platform, especially involving minors, are a criminal offense in Korea.

The commission has set a deadline of two weeks. If X fails to respond or ignores the request, it may impose an administrative fine of up to 10 million won ($6,870). The same move has been witnessed in other countries, where xAI has been tasked with coming up with measures to curb the rise of the menace.

Like Korea, the countries have also announced substantial fines if the company fails to devise and submit a report showing the steps it has taken to limit the rise in the menace.

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Binance founder Changpeng Zhao says simply holding crypto long-term works better than most trading tactics. In remarks that are rippling through market forums and social platforms, CZ underscored his belief that frequent trading rarely delivers better returns than holding core assets like Bitcoin or BNB over the long term.

On X, he commented, “I’ve seen many different trading strategies over the years; very few can beat the simple ‘buy and hold’, which is what I do. Not financial advice.”

His remarks come a few days after he spoke on his incarceration and the opaque pardon process at the World Economic Forum.

CZ doubles down on HODL strategy as Bitcoin eyes historic supercycle

CZ’s message has gotten backing among some. However, one X user pushed back, saying buy-and-hold only works in rising markets, noting that many who held assets since Trump took office are down nearly 90%. Another user argued that buy-and-hold only works when you’re purchasing cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and BNB, not other altcoins.

Another in support of CZ’s view commented, “Buy and hold” isn’t lazy; it’s the only strategy that lets time do the heavy lifting for you. Most people trade their way to zero, while the ones who “do nothing” are the ones who actually build wealth.”

Meanwhile, speaking on Friday in a CNBC interview, CZ also predicted Bitcoin could break its historic cycle as governments around the world adopt more crypto-friendly stances.

In response to Squawk Box’s Andrew Ross Sorkin’s question over his forecast for BTC this year, he remarked, “If you are looking at today, tomorrow, on a daily basis, there’s no way I can predict. If you look at the five ten-year horizons, it’s very easy to predict. We’re going to go up.”

When asked if he supported ARK Invest’s Cathie Wood’s bold Bitcoin forecast of between $300,00 and $1.5 million by 2030, he said he shares the optimism, adding that he believes a supercycle is likely this year. He explained that with the U.S. taking a pro-crypto stance and other countries following suit, Bitcoin is likely to break its four-year cycle.

Bitcoin has typically followed a four-year cycle, rallying strongly more than a year after each halving — with the next one anticipated in April 2028 and possible highs toward late 2029.

CZ encouraged countries to take on crypto asset tokenization

During a Thursday panel at WEF Davos 2026, CZ shared that he’s been talking with around a dozen nations about asset tokenization, but declined to specify which assets or countries. He added that the projects would help countries raise capital by selling small stakes in state-owned assets to citizens or investors, much as in past privatizations of oil or telecom companies. He also insisted that the global shift toward crypto-friendly policies is good news for digital assets and for the United States.

Zhao also said he’s keeping active, building Giggle Academy, and contributing to YZi Labs alongside other projects. Additionally, he noted that his role in the BNB Chain ecosystem is primarily mentorship, adding, “I just mentor them,” though he holds minority shares.

Moreover, in his interview with Sorkin, he also shared that the pardon from President Trump helped ease a long-standing psychological strain following his four-month sentence.

In 2023, Zhao admitted that Binance failed to implement proper anti-money laundering controls and resigned as CEO as part of a broad settlement with U.S. regulators. He said he wasn’t expecting to serve time behind bars, based on how similar cases had been handled previously, describing his prison sentence as brutal.

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The Indian police have announced the arrest of four individuals over a fake crypto investment scam. According to a statement from the Panchkula Cyber Crime Police, the criminals were busted and subsequently arrested after investigators unraveled their scam operation, which was mainly being conducted on WhatsApp.

According to the Indian police, the fraudsters cheated a resident out of Rs. 16.30 lakh (approximately $17,787) under the guise of multiplying his investment through crypto trading.

The criminals were said to have pressured the resident, promising him high returns on his investment at the end of the trading period. However, they ended up stealing the funds using a fraudulent mobile application that was introduced to the victim.

Indian police busts fake crypto investment scam ring

According to the complaint filed by the Indian resident, the scammers contacted him on WhatsApp in September 2025. He said they were able to convince him to invest in their trading scheme, assuring him of profits on his capital. He said they also showed him several proofs of profits that they made trading.

After the back and forth, he agreed to invest, and they sent him a link. The scammers also asked him to download a specific trading application.

Over the next few months, the victim claimed he made several transactions to multiple bank accounts provided by the scammers, which he said were for investment purposes.

In total, the victim said he transferred a total of Rs. 16.30 lakh to the scammers. The Cyber Security Crime Police said they acted swiftly after he made his complaint, registering the case in November 2025, and starting investigations immediately.

The Indian police said under the supervision of the officer-in-charge of the Cyber Crime Division, Yudhvir Singh, the officer in charge of the investigation arrested the first suspect, Arun Kumar.

Kumar was a resident of Dhamtan Sahib village and was arrested on January 20. During his interrogation, Kumar provided investigators with crucial information and evidence that pointed them in the direction of other members of the cybercrime network.

Police warn residents about the rise in crypto fraud

Police claimed that Kumar’s cooperation and information subsequently led to the arrest of three other suspects, Mohammed Rashid in Delhi, Mohammed Alam Khan in Delhi, and Jasbir Singh in Punjab on January 22.

After questioning, the three suspects were sent to judicial custody, while Mohammed Rashid was produced in court and ordered to be remanded in police custody for three days. Police say that investigations will continue as they hope to apprehend more members of the gang.

In addition, the Indian police have mentioned that they are looking beyond this singular case and would cast their net wide with the hope of apprehending more fraudsters aiming to defraud innocent victims using digital assets and other new technologies.

They said that frequent raids are being conducted in Delhi, Haryana, and other parts of India to nab criminals targeting both local investors and international victims. Meanwhile, they have issued warnings to the general public over the rise in criminal activities.

The Indian police have advised the general public to seek financial and investment advice from professionals knowledgeable in the field. They have also warned residents to desist from listening to investment advice from strangers on the internet.

The Indian police also advised elderly residents to talk to someone in the house if anyone approaches them online with an investment opportunity that seems too good to be true, highlighting that most criminals dealing in fake investments use mouthwatering profits as their main point.

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