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a16z Crypto states that the threat of quantum computers breaking cryptocurrency cryptography before 2030 is highly unlikely. They advise public blockchains like Bitcoin and Ethereum to prioritize protocol governance and implementation security over rushing to quantum-resistant solutions, which may introduce new risks. Privacy-centric blockchains face more immediate quantum risks due to encrypted data and should consider early migration to quantum-resistant technologies.

Vietnam initiates a pilot program to license crypto exchanges, signaling regulatory progress in Southeast Asia. Indonesia projects its crypto trading volume to reach approximately $31 billion by 2025, showing robust market growth. Russia plans to simplify licensing requirements for crypto exchangers, while India orders exchanges to stop supporting privacy coins; Binance CEO CZ discusses asset tokenization talks with multiple governments.

Michael Saylor, founder of MicroStrategy, has released updates related to the Bitcoin Tracker. Historically, MicroStrategy reveals its Bitcoin acquisition details shortly after such updates. Investors can expect possible acquisition data disclosure next week following this recent release.

Institutions face challenges with Bitcoin liquidity as market depth is often thin, especially during off-peak hours, leading to higher execution costs and price slippage. Spot market depth, derivatives positioning, ETF flows, and stablecoin rails all contribute to overall liquidity, which fluctuates intraday and influences trade predictability. A comprehensive liquidity analysis including order book depth, derivatives leverage, ETF creation/redemption, and stablecoin movement is essential to gauge true market health beyond volume metrics.

A significant cryptocurrency bill is advancing through the U.S. Congress, poised to impact regular crypto users. The article simplifies complex legislative procedures to highlight what changes may occur if the bill passes or fails. It provides insight into regulatory outcomes that may influence how everyday investors interact with the crypto market.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) confirmed that the application by World Liberty Financial for a national trust bank charter will face rigorous scrutiny under current regulations. This follows U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren's call to pause the review due to concerns about the project's potential to create billions in 'paper wealth' for former President Donald Trump and his family. OCC Chief Counsel reiterated that the application will be evaluated thoroughly and fairly like any other.

Crypto community members have reported receiving phishing direct messages from attackers impersonating accounts that falsely display an @ethena_labs project verification badge. The scam aims to deceive users by mimicking legitimate project accounts. Users should remain cautious and verify account authenticity before engaging with such messages.

A South Korean lawyer misappropriated over $4,000 in settlement funds from police officer clients and invested the money in cryptocurrencies. Despite the court condemning his actions as unethical, he received a $7,000 fine instead of jail time, drawing criticism for leniency toward crypto-related offenses. The case highlights ongoing concerns about judicial responses to cryptocurrency-related crimes in South Korea.

Alchemy Pay has secured a Money Transmitter License (MTL) in Nebraska, enhancing its regulatory compliance across the United States. The company now holds MTLs in a total of 14 states, including Arkansas, Iowa, and Oregon, among others. This development is a significant step for Alchemy Pay's expansion and legitimization efforts within the U.S. crypto payment market.

Analysts forecast Shiba Inu to trade between $0.00000787 and $0.0000125 in February 2026, with consensus around $0.0000095. Key technical indicators suggest a possible breakout if SHIB breaks above resistance, but weak adoption and declining token burns limit upside potential. Market watchers note critical support at $0.0000072 and vital resistance between $0.0000085 and $0.0000090, with ecosystem factors and whale activity playing major roles.

In 2025, stablecoin issuers earned roughly $50 billion in revenue through their stablecoin operations on Ethereum. The stablecoin supply on the Ethereum network grew by about $500 billion, exceeding $1.8 trillion by Q4 of 2025. Issuers' quarterly revenue peaked at approximately $1.4 billion in the final quarter.

XRP is trading just above a critical support level, with signs pointing to a looming 25% decline if the support breaks. A recent hidden bullish divergence failed to trigger a rebound, indicating weak buyer interest amid growing selling pressure from whales. ETF outflows and decreased accumulation by long-term holders further suggest declining institutional and retail demand.

Coinbase is reportedly planning meetings with South Korean crypto exchange Coinone as part of potential equity investments amid a wave of takeover activities in the region. Coinone, South Korea’s third-largest exchange, is believed to be up for sale with its CEO partially divesting his stake. The market is seeing multiple major players like Binance, Naver, and Mirae Asset pursuing acquisitions, leaving Bithumb as the last major independent exchange.

Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas critiques the silver ETF SLV's recent return as exaggerated while its capital inflows remain modest at around $1 billion over six months. Conversely, BlackRock's Bitcoin spot ETF IBIT, despite a 24% price dip, has amassed more than $6 billion in net inflows, suggesting resilient investor confidence. This contrast points to a bullish long-term outlook for Bitcoin, as IBIT's sustained inflows through challenging market conditions reflect strong foundational support.

An address linked to the Pendle Finance team recently transferred 1.8 million PENDLE tokens worth about $3.61 million to the Bybit cryptocurrency exchange. The transfer was conducted through an intermediary address. This significant movement has drawn attention from the crypto community and market watchers.

Stablecoin trading volume in South Korea surged by 62% as the local currency weakened against the US dollar to multi-year lows. This increase is driven by economic pressures, regulatory changes allowing corporate crypto investments, and exchange-led initiatives to promote stablecoins. Despite a broader cryptocurrency market downturn, these factors create a nuanced environment for crypto activities in South Korea.

Ethereum recently reached a record daily transaction count of approximately 2.88 million while maintaining low average fees, showcasing effective Layer 2 scaling progress. The Ethereum mainnet is evolving into a modular settlement and coordination layer, paralleling traditional financial system architecture. However, the report warns that some transaction volume may be driven by low-value activities, suggesting cautious interpretation of these metrics.

a16z Crypto highlights that the main obstacle in prediction markets is accurately determining event outcomes rather than forecasting. The use of AI, specifically large language models (LLMs), as impartial judges recorded on blockchain could improve transparency, reduce manipulation, and increase trust. This AI-driven approach aims to enhance settlement efficiency, scalability, and fairness in prediction markets.

Makina Finance was exploited, resulting in a $4.13 million loss. MEV bots intercepted the hacker's transactions, rerouting stolen funds to controlled addresses and mitigating further losses. Efforts like the Safe Harbor framework seek to regulate such recovery methods but face challenges related to centralization and custody transparency.