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The US stock market closed mixed with the Dow Jones down 0.83%, S&P 500 up 0.41%, and Nasdaq rising 0.91%. The cryptocurrency sector showed mixed performance, with ALTS gaining over 10% and HUT up 9.66%, while HODL declined more than 6%. Msx.com, a decentralized RWA trading platform, has launched hundreds of RWA tokens based on major US stocks and ETFs including AAPL, AMZN, GOOGL, META, MSFT, NFLX, and NVDA.

Laser Digital, a crypto firm backed by Nomura, has applied for a US national bank trust charter to operate under federal regulation. The move aims to streamline its digital asset spot trading business within a regulated framework, avoiding state-by-state custody permissions. The application reflects a growing trend of fintech and crypto companies seeking federal charters amid a more supportive regulatory environment.

Coinbase Institutional and Glassnode report that Bitcoin has entered a more stable and resilient stage following the Q4 2025 market drawdown. This correction effectively eliminated excess leverage, lowering the risk of cascading liquidations. Consequently, Bitcoin's market shows improved resistance to macroeconomic shocks.

On-chain data shows that after Ethereum rose to $3,000, Trend Research borrowed $80 million USDT from the Aave lending protocol. The borrowed funds were transferred promptly to Binance within two hours. This rapid movement suggests strategic positioning possibly linked to market opportunities or liquidity management.

An Ethereum swing trading whale who started accumulating ETH on January 12 has sold 10,000 stETH for $30.12 million, realizing a profit of $1.039 million. The trader has previously made $98.18 million in profits and currently holds over 60,000 ETH with an unrealized gain of $7.243 million. This sale increases the cumulative profit from ETH swing trading to $99.22 million.

A joint report by Coinbase Institutional and Glassnode highlights Bitcoin's transition into a stable and resilient macroeconomic asset. The market has purged excessive leverage, reducing liquidation risks and enhancing Bitcoin's ability to absorb macroeconomic shocks. The shift reflects a new focus on sustainability driven by institutional investors rather than retail-driven momentum trades.

CoinMarketCap's Altcoin Season Index has decreased by 4 points to 25, signaling lower altcoin strength compared to Bitcoin. The index tracks whether most top 100 market cap coins outperform Bitcoin over the last 90 days. A score this low suggests that Bitcoin is currently dominating the market relative to altcoins.

Coinbase and Glassnode's latest report highlights Bitcoin entering a phase of greater market stability after a Q4 2025 correction eliminated excess leverage. The market is shifting from high-leverage retail speculation to a macro-sensitive asset influenced by global liquidity and institutional positioning. Bitcoin options open interest now exceeds perpetual futures, indicating increased demand for downside protection and a cautious risk appetite among investors.

South Dakota state representative Logan Manhart has reintroduced the Bitcoin Reserve Bill HB 1155, proposing to amend state law to permit up to 10% of public funds to be invested in Bitcoin. This bill closely resembles an earlier 2025 version that was previously shelved, with only minor revisions. If passed and signed by the governor, South Dakota would become one of the few U.S. states officially allowing investments or holdings of Bitcoin at the state level, joining Texas, Arizona, and New Hampshire.

A new report from Coinbase Institutional and Glassnode indicates that Bitcoin has entered a more stable phase after excess leverage was cleaned out in Q4 2025. The market is shifting from speculative retail-driven momentum to a macroeconomic and institutional-driven structure, with more hedging and cautious sentiment. While current conditions are healthy, potential risks remain from liquidity slowdown, inflation, or geopolitical events.

A recent PayPal survey shows that nearly 85% of merchants expect cryptocurrency payments to become regular within five years, with 40% of merchants already supporting crypto payments. Larger enterprises with revenues over $500 million lead adoption, with half already accepting crypto at checkout. The trend is fueled by consumer demand and facilitated by clearer stablecoin regulations such as the GENIUS Act.

Laser Digital, the digital asset division of Nomura Holdings, has applied for a U.S. national trust bank charter with the OCC to relocate its crypto operations to the U.S. and operate nationwide under a federal regulatory framework. This federal charter would exempt it from state-by-state custody licensing and enable spot cryptocurrency trading services. The move aligns with a growing trend of crypto firms seeking mainstream integration within the evolving U.S. regulatory environment.

The U.S. CLARITY Act faces significant obstacles in Congress, causing growing uncertainty in the crypto industry’s regulatory future. Bitwise warns the market may shift from speculative optimism to a cautious phase, hinging on broader stablecoin and token adoption or regulatory progress. Without clear legislation, institutional investors may favor Bitcoin and strong infrastructure firms over DeFi, altcoins, and exchanges, delaying overall crypto maturation.

Jingliang Su was sentenced to nearly four years in prison for laundering approximately $37 million through a crypto scam targeting U.S. victims. The scam involved fake crypto investment websites and the conversion of stolen funds into USDT via international accounts and shell companies. At least 174 American victims were affected, with several accomplices also pleading guilty.

Arthur Hayes analyzes the possibility of the U.S. Federal Reserve expanding its balance sheet to stabilize the weakening Japanese yen and rising Japanese government bond yields. This intervention would increase global dollar liquidity, potentially benefiting risk assets like Bitcoin and select DeFi tokens. Hayes advises caution before boosting risk exposure, awaiting formal Fed intervention signals, and currently holds positions in Zcash and quality DeFi projects.

The '1011 Insider Whale' has increased its Ethereum long position by five times, now holding over 212,700 ETH valued at around $643 million. The whale’s portfolio also includes significant holdings in Solana and Bitcoin, worth approximately $66 million and $51 million respectively. Despite the sizable position increase, the whale is currently experiencing an unrealized loss close to $30 million and has paid more than $8 million in funding fees.

A class-action lawsuit accuses Meta’s WhatsApp of enabling employee access to private messages despite end-to-end encryption claims. Experts in cryptography and privacy law express skepticism, citing a lack of concrete evidence and highlighting alternative explanations such as unencrypted cloud backups. Meta denies the allegations, calling them baseless, while rival executives make unsubstantiated security critiques amid ongoing litigation pressure.

Arthur Hayes pointed to Japan's weakening yen and rising JGB yields as signs of structural stress that may trigger intervention by the U.S. Treasury and Federal Reserve. This intervention would inject liquidity, easing pressure on U.S. Treasury yields. If the Fed's balance sheet expands concurrently, it could provide short-term support for risk assets such as Bitcoin.

Shiba Inu (SHIB) is currently trading near historic lows after losing 54% in the past year, but signs of whale accumulation and token burns suggest underlying strength. Analysts predict SHIB may first experience further price dips before a significant breakout to approximately $0.000032, representing over a 240% increase. New developments, including Shytoshi Kusama's AI project and growing trading volumes, bolster bullish sentiment and long-term forecasts project potential highs nearing $0.0076 by 2030.