A growing number of chart watchers are pointing to a long stretch of sideways trading for XRP and saying this setup has come before big rallies. According to a widely followed analyst known as CryptoBull, the current price action echoes earlier runs in the token’s history.

The signal is simple: long quiet periods sometimes lead to sharp moves when buying pressure returns. That does not mean a jump is guaranteed. Markets can stay quiet for a long time, and timing is uncertain.

Pattern Mirrors Prior Cycles

Based on reports, XRP’s weekly structure shows a stretch of range trading after strong breakouts from earlier years. The comparison reaches back several cycles. In past examples, long ranges eventually gave way to impulsive runs that pushed the price far above prior highs.

The next impulse will take #XRP to $11 and the last wave to $70. The price pattern is copying the previous bullrun, only difference is time, which makes sense, as we need longer accumulation for higher prices. pic.twitter.com/WJxzYDVRKT

— CryptoBull (@CryptoBull2020) January 23, 2026

CryptoBull argues the present consolidation has lasted longer than previous ones, which, he says, could compress price action and build fuel for a larger expansion when momentum flips. The idea rests on history repeating itself in broad strokes, not in exact moves.

Longer Accumulation Could Support Bigger Targets

Some analysts see a sixfold move as plausible if the same pattern plays out. That kind of rise would put XRP near $11, a figure being discussed by multiple commentators. There is also talk of a further, final wave lifting the token much higher in a later stage — talk that reaches $70 in extreme scenarios.

A bottom test—where price revisits support to confirm strength before a new push—has appeared in a few past cycles and is being watched closely now.

The presence of such tests can either validate a base or warn that the range has more work to do. Timelines are vague, and a long accumulation period can stretch for years before any decisive breakout.

RLUSD Rumors Fuel Speculative Calls

Reports that BlackRock may use Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin have added fuel to the fire. News like that has pushed sentiment upward and sparked fresh technical calls, with some forecasts ranging from $6 to $14 in near- to mid-term scenarios.

Other voices go far beyond, naming targets that would imply market caps so large they would be hard to reconcile with today’s market size.

These more extreme numbers should be treated with caution, because they assume near-perfect conditions and massive capital flows that may never arrive. Still, adoption whispers can tilt sentiment and speed up moves when buyers pile in.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Africa is seeing a quiet shift in how people send and hold value. Mobile phones are central. According to Vera Songwe, a former UN under-secretary-general, millions who lack bank accounts can use stablecoins to protect savings and move money faster. That access matters in places where inflation has been high and bank fees are steep.

Use By Businesses And Everyday People

Reports have disclosed that stablecoins now make up around 43% of all crypto transaction volume in sub-Saharan Africa. Nigeria alone processed nearly $22 billion in dollar-linked stablecoin activity over a recent 12-month span.

That money is used for remittances, payroll and business settlements. Firms and market traders are among the biggest users, but many everyday people are joining in too.

In countries such as Egypt, Nigeria, Ethiopia and South Africa, demand is driven by volatile local currencies and rules that limit access to dollars. Mobile money networks help push adoption along.

Stablecoins Speed Up Cross-Border Payments

Traditional remittances can be costly. At a World Economic Forum panel in Davos, Switzerland on Thursday, Songwe noted that sending $100 through traditional money transfer services in Africa often costs around $6, making cross-border payments both slow and costly.

Stablecoins cut those costs and shorten wait times from days to minutes for many transfers. Small payments and wages can be settled quickly, and that speed changes how businesses plan cash flow.

Local Rules Are Changing Fast

Governments are reacting in different ways. Ghana passed a Virtual Asset Service Providers law to bring trading into a formal framework. On January 13, Nigeria required crypto platforms to link transactions to tax ID numbers, a move meant to bring activity into official records.

South Africa’s central bank has warned that stablecoins and other tokens could pose risks to financial stability as use grows. Policy is being written while users and tech firms keep pushing ahead.

Risks And The Road Ahead

High inflation remains a core reason people are turning to stablecoins. Reports say inflation has exceeded 20% in 12 to 15 countries since the pandemic, and that reality pushes people to look for alternatives to local notes.

Everyday Use, Measured Change

What started as a tech niche has grown into a practical tool for many across the continent. For small and medium businesses, the benefit is clear: faster settlements and lower costs.

For people without bank accounts, a smartphone can now open a route to store value in currencies less tied to local inflation. Adoption will likely keep rising, but how quickly it becomes part of mainstream finance will depend on stronger rules, better safeguards, and the continued spread of simple mobile services that people trust.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

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Circle’s chief executive painted a brisk picture at Davos this week: autonomous software agents that act for people could be using stablecoins to pay for everyday things within three to five years.

He said these agents will need a money system that is stable, fast, and programmable. That, he argued, points to stablecoins as the likely choice.

AI Agents And Money

According to reports, Jeremy Allaire of Circle said “literally billions” of AI agents may be transacting on behalf of users in the near term.

“Three years, five years from now, one can expect that there will be billions, literally billions of AI agents conducting economic activity in the world on a continuous basis,” Allaire said during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

He described work on new networks and tools aimed at letting software act like small businesses or helpers that buy services, settle bills, and tip content creators.

This idea is simple on the surface: software needs a reliable unit of account when it spends, and tokenized dollars can fit that role.

Building The Tools

Reports say companies across the crypto and tech world are racing to build the plumbing for this future. Circle is pitching USDC as a neutral payments layer that software can plug into.

Other firms are testing protocols that let a machine sign off on a payment when certain conditions are met. Some large tech groups are also exploring ways for their platforms to let software pay for services automatically. Progress is visible, but the path is not yet clear.

What Regulators Might Ask

Regulators will have questions. Reports note concerns about money flow, consumer protections, and where bank deposits sit if stablecoins grow rapidly.

At Davos, the CEO pushed back on the idea that stablecoins would drain bank deposits the way some fear, saying comparisons to other financial instruments are more fitting.

Still, lawmakers in the US and elsewhere are watching closely. Rules could move faster if policy makers see real volume coming from so-called agentic commerce.

New Networks, New Risks

Based on reports, the technical choices will shape both convenience and danger. If agents can move value at scale, fraud and theft risks may rise too.

Systems will need clear identity checks, fault handling, and ways to stop runaway payments. Some safety work is already under way, but much remains to be designed and tested.

Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView

The CEO of stablecoin issuer Circle has weighed in on the importance of stablecoin rewards and why he believes the banking industry’s concerns about interest payments on these assets are “absurd.”

Circle CEO Rejects Banks’ Stablecoin Fears

Speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Circle’s CEO, Jeremy Allaire, discussed banks’ growing concerns that paying interest on stablecoins poses a threat to the industry, calling the deposit flight narrative “totally absurd.”

The banking sector has expressed concerns about stablecoin rewards, arguing that interest payments will distort market dynamics and affect credit creation. In the US, banks have heavily criticized the GENIUS Act, claiming that it has loopholes that could pose risks to the financial system.

The executive rejected the sector’s general arguments, citing historical and practical reasons. He asserted that this exact argument has been historically used when new financial products, such as government money market funds, have emerged.

Notably, Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan recently compared the digital assets to money market mutual funds, which require reserves to be held in short-term instruments, such as US Treasuries, reducing lending capacity in the system.

The executive told investors that the banking sector, small- and medium-sized businesses in particular, could face significant challenges if the US Congress does not prohibit interest-bearing stablecoins, as up to $6 trillion in deposits, or 30% to 35% of all US commercial bank deposits, could flow out of the banking system and into the stablecoin sector.

However, Allaire pointed out that, despite institutions claiming that financial products would “draw all the deposit base,” their growth has not “stopped the ability for lending to happen.”

The importance Of Rewards

Circle’s CEO also argued that stablecoins should not be singled out when rewards for other financial products exist and contribute to the system. “Those rewards (…) exist in every balance that you have with a credit card that you use. They exist around so many other financial products and services that we have,” he detailed.

“These rewards are actually very important,” Allaire continued. “They help with stickiness, they help with customer traction. They are not themselves like these huge monetary policy dampers.”

Most importantly, he pointed out that lending is moving away from the risk-taking of banks, with “a huge amount of lending is moving towards private credit.”

He cited a Wednesday WEF panel, in which a capital markets participant highlighted how the vast majority of GDP growth in the United States was “formed by capital market formation around junk bonds.”

“So private credit issuing junk bonds, capitalizing the build out of the American technology advancements, not bank credit,” the executive added.

Previously, Coinbase Institute shared a similar argument, affirming that “credit is evolving, not shrinking. Lending is shifting to private credit, fintech, and DeFi channels that don’t depend on deposits. Liquidity moves—it doesn’t vanish.”

Allaire concluded that “we want stablecoin money to be cash instrument money, prudentially supervised, very, very safe money. And then I think what we want to do is we want to build models for lending that build on top of stablecoins.”

ARK Invest’s new roadmap puts a big number on the table, and it’s hard to ignore. Reports say Cathie Wood’s firm’s “Big Ideas 2026” research paints a scenario where the total value of crypto climbs to about $28 trillion by 2030.

Big Ideas Point To A Shift

According to ARK and its public writeups, that $28 trillion is not blind optimism. The firm breaks the future into three main drivers: Bitcoin, decentralized finance, and tokenized real-world assets.

Reports note Bitcoin could make up roughly 70% of that total, which would mean about $16 trillion in Bitcoin market cap by 2030.

DeFi And Tokenized Assets Take The Stage

DeFi platforms and smart-contract networks are expected to grow a lot. ARK’s scenario puts smart money and on-chain services as a major contributor to market value in the run up to 2030.

The firm also projects tokenized real-world assets — things like tokenized bonds, property shares, and other financial products moved onto ledgers — to climb into the trillions, with some reports pointing toward around $11 trillion for tokenization.

How Bitcoin Fits Into The Picture

Given the share ARK assigns to Bitcoin, the math pushes toward very large per-coin prices if that scenario plays out. Reports say ARK’s base case uses a little over 20 million Bitcoins in supply by 2030 and implies a per-coin price that could sit near the high hundreds of thousands — commonly quoted numbers range up to about $950,000 to $1,000,000 in that framework.

Fast Growth Assumptions

To reach $28 trillion, the forecast depends on very steep growth each year. ARK points to an implied compound annual growth rate near 61% from present levels to 2030. That is aggressive. It would mean rapid gains across many segments of the crypto market, not just a single rally.

Reports and industry analysts warn that the path to that future has a long list of hurdles. Regulation must become clearer in many places. Institutional rails and custody tools need to expand and prove reliable.

Market sentiment has to stay positive long enough for major capital flows to arrive. Any of these things going wrong would change the numbers quickly.

ARK’s “Big Ideas 2026” details a robust vision of a $28 trillion ecosystem driven by Bitcoin, DeFi, and tokenization. Although it holds a rather ambitious 61% growth trajectory riddled with numerous regulatory and market obstacles, the vision reinforces the faith of ARK Invest in the transformation of the digital asset space from being a speculative domain to the nucleus of the global finance system.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Now hanging in uncertainty, a big US cryptocurrency bill meant to set firmer ground for trading platforms, digital tokens and stablecoins lost its urgent status among Congress leaders. Attention shifting elsewhere, several influential senators paused work on it this week. Talks continue behind the scenes, aiming to fix unresolved parts before moving forward.

Lawmakers Focus On Housing

A handful of senators shift attention toward affordable housing plans linked to US President Donald Trump’s priorities. This move shrinks the chance for quick approval of the cryptocurrency legislation. Time runs short as political energy flows elsewhere.

Now the Banking Committee changed its timeline because of that move, so the expected vote on the bill got delayed for now. This puts a pause on efforts to build one clear system.

Big Industry Pushback

Out of nowhere, Coinbase stopped backing the plan. Its executives said the proposal might limit how stablecoins work, affecting services people rely on. That shift made them step away quietly. Right after, the group in charge paused things as well.

That shift laid bare growing tensions. Not every bank welcomed the rise of stablecoins. Rivalry looms when digital coin returns gain wider reach. Some financial players see threat in that growth.

Industry Response And Market Effects

Fear spread through trading floors. When talks got delayed, digital currencies started falling because people began questioning how much longer the arguing could last – alongside what kind of outcome might finally emerge.

Useful, perhaps, if waiting brings sharper rules. Still, dragging too long risks confusing banks more, leaving them unsure when to act.

Separate Tracks Emerge

Ahead of the curve, some lawmakers are eyeing a fresh approach where certain digital tokens fall under commodity rules. This version, quietly shared by the Senate Agriculture team, might follow its own path forward – timing unclear.

While others debate classification, this draft sidesteps the main gridlock and suggests an alternate route through regulatory terrain.

One path might still move forward, even if the Banking Committee’s proposal gets stuck. Still, running two versions at once brings up concerns – how will they merge them should both make it to debate?

Crypto Bill: What Might Happen Next

Few believe it’s dead, though time slips fast. Elections loom; attention wanders. Agreement must come soon, or nothing sticks.

Some members of Congress quietly say pushing into late February could kill chances, yet backers still meet out of view to adjust the proposal and pull in more votes.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Bitwise’s take on the final months of 2025 reads like a careful, hopeful note rather than a loud market call. Momentum on the chains rose even as prices stalled, and that gap is exactly what has traders talking. Some think it marks a bottom. Others say it’s too soon to be sure.

Crypto: On-Chain Activity Surges

According to Bitwise, Ethereum activity and layer-two transactions climbed to new highs, and decentralized trading grew markedly. Stablecoin supplies also swelled, with the total market cap passing the $300 billion mark in Q4.

Reports note that decentralized exchange volumes at times matched or exceeded those of major centralized venues. These are hard numbers. They are signs that real use and liquidity are expanding under the surface.

The latest Bitwise Crypto Market Review just dropped—and it’s the most important one we’ve ever published.

Why? Because it shows a tension in crypto markets that has historically signaled a bear-market bottom (see Q1 2023).

Receipts: During Q4 2025…

– ETH’s price fell 29% ……

— Bitwise (@BitwiseInvest) January 21, 2026

Why Prices Have Lagged

Bitwise’s chief investment officer, Matt Hougan, compared this setup to early 2023 when prices trailed rising fundamentals before a significant rebound took hold over the following two years.

The comparison makes sense on paper. Price can be stubborn. Market psychology often lags behind on-chain realities, and traders sometimes wait for a clearer macro story before committing capital.

Fundstrat’s Tom Lee offers a counterpoint, saying the year could be bumpy until late, with tariffs and political tensions weighing on risk appetite. That view keeps many investors cautious.

Crypto, Stablecoins And DeFi At The Center

According to market data, flows into stablecoins accelerated, and fund inflows to crypto firms outpaced several other sectors in the stock market. DeFi use was no longer a niche metric; it was central to the Q4 narrative.

“That’s the type of divergence you get at the bottom of bear markets, when sentiment is down but fundamentals are up,” Hougan said.

Some infrastructure firms reported rising revenues. At the same time, trading volumes remained muted compared with the peaks seen earlier, which helps explain the mismatch between on-chain strength and sideways price action.

Why This Might Matter For 2026

Bitwise highlighted 10 broad indicators it sees as health signs for the market, ranging from transaction counts to custody and fee trends. Progress on regulatory clarity was also flagged.

Reports say the Clarity Act could change how stablecoins are treated in the US, and a new US Federal Reserve chair could shift policy in ways that matter for risk assets.

Bitwise sees Q4 as a quiet period where things were improving behind the scenes, even if prices didn’t show it. The firm says this kind of gap between price and activity has happened before big rebounds. It doesn’t mean a rally will happen right away, but the market could be setting itself up for a stronger year ahead.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary, Paul Chan Mo-po, announced the region’s plan to issue licenses for stablecoin providers in the first quarter of this year as the city seeks to strengthen its position as a leading hub for financial technology.

Hong Kong’s Regulatory Framework

Chan highlighted Hong Kong’s regulatory framework for digital assets, describing it as “responsible and sustainable.” He emphasized the importance of a balanced approach to support the growth of both finance and technology, noting that these two sectors are “mutually reinforcing.” 

Chan articulated the benefits of digital assets, pointing out that they can enhance transparency, improve risk management, and facilitate more efficient capital movement. “We view digital assets as a financial innovation that we should embrace proactively,” he stated.

The Finance chief elaborated on the necessity of ensuring that digital assets serve the real economy while simultaneously implementing strong guardrails to mitigate risks related to financial stability, market integrity, and investor protection. 

He reiterated the principle of “same activity, same risk, same regulation,” which is designed to promote a healthy, responsible, and sustainable environment for digital asset development. The government and regulators, he asserted, will act as “market enablers,” setting a precedent for innovation.

First Stablecoin Licenses Soon

Over the past couple of yeaers, Hong Kong has prioritized strengthening its position as a fintech hub, particularly in light of the US’s efforts to fulfill President Donald Trump’s vision of establishing the country as the global centre for crypto. 

Chan pointed out that since 2023, the city has issued three batches of tokenized green bonds totaling $2.1 billion. Additionally, Hong Kong has already established a licensing framework for virtual asset trading platforms. 

Notably, last November, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) launched a controlled pilot program to facilitate real-value transactions using tokenized deposits and digital assets.

During his remarks, Chan specifically mentioned the upcoming licensing regime for stablecoins, indicating that the first batch of licenses is expected to be issued soon. 

According to reports from the HKMA, the authority received formal stablecoin license applications from 36 institutions by September 30, nearly half of the 77 expressions of interest recorded in August. 

Applicants for these licenses include a diverse range of entities, such as banks, technology firms, securities and asset management companies, e-commerce platforms, payment service providers, and Web3 startups.

A spokesperson for the HKMA stated that the authority will review all submission materials meticulously and conduct approvals in line with the new Stablecoin Ordinance and relevant regulatory requirements. 

While the HKMA aims to announce the first batch of licensed stablecoin issuers between the first and second quarter, it has advised that the licensing process will be stringent, with only a limited number of licenses granted during this initial phase.

Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com 

The world's largest stock exchange is developing a blockchain-based platform for tokenized securities that would operate around the clock.

The post New York Stock Exchange Unveils Tokenized Securities Platform appeared first on TechRepublic.

Ripple’s UK & Europe policy director Matthew Osborne is urging central banks to stop treating stablecoins as an external threat and instead fold well-regulated issuers into core safeguards, arguing that oversight plus access to official infrastructure can make stablecoins a net stabiliser for payments and settlement.

Writing for the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum on 19 January 2026, Osborne said stablecoins have moved well beyond a niche experiment, citing a market value “in excess of $300bn” and annual transaction volumes that he wrote now surpass Visa and Mastercard combined. He argued momentum could accelerate in the US after the Genius Act, which he said would introduce federal rules and allow banks to issue stablecoins.

The Ripple exec framed the shift as already visible among central banks themselves. He pointed to the European Central Bank’s recent recognition of stablecoins’ benefits for cross-border payments and its view that tomorrow’s financial system will host multiple forms of money. He also cited the Bank of England’s stance that stablecoins could support “faster, cheaper retail and wholesale payments” as part of a “multi-money” system underpinned by central bank money.

Ripple Exec: Bring Stablecoins Into The Safety Net

At the centre of his case is the claim that stablecoins should be treated as an incremental evolution rather than an adversarial replacement. “Regulated stablecoins could play a key role in financial markets alongside other forms of money,” Osborne wrote. “First, stablecoins are more likely to complement the existing financial system than replace it. This is evolution, not revolution.” He then added: “The solution lies in central banks channelling stablecoin momentum, not fighting it.”

Osborne argues central bank money will remain essential as a risk-free settlement asset and safe store of value, but its relative role could shift in digital markets. He pointed to atomic settlement, where legs of a transaction settle simultaneously and conditionally, as reducing the traditional need to use central bank money purely to mitigate settlement risk.

Where stablecoins could be structurally preferred, he wrote, is in cross-border flows and multi-chain markets. “Cross-border payments are one example, given that stablecoins can move value anywhere in the world in seconds,” the Ripple exec said.

“In contrast, central bank money is likely to be less suitable for cross-border payments given access may be geographically limited and adoption of on-chain central bank money is far from universal around the world.” He also argued stablecoins are likely to exist across more blockchain networks than central bank money, making same-chain settlement between tokenized assets and cash more achievable while interoperability remains uneven.

Central banks have repeatedly warned that stablecoins could pull funds from bank deposits, weakening bank credit creation and potentially amplifying stress events. Osborne pushed back, arguing the risk is overstated because markets already accommodate instruments backed by highly liquid assets, money market funds, e-money, and “narrow banks”, without causing sustained deposit runs.

His bigger point is that regulation, while necessary, is insufficient without a backstop. “But regulation alone is not enough,” Osborne wrote. “Stablecoin issuers lack access to the safety net that gives bank deposits their resilience. Without it, even well-managed stablecoins are more vulnerable to shocks – as seen when USDC temporarily lost its peg following exposure to Silicon Valley Bank in 2023.”

He argued central banks should consider extending elements of that safety net, including allowing well-regulated stablecoin issuers to hold part of their backing assets in central bank accounts, offering liquidity insurance against market-wide shocks, and granting more direct payment-system access to reduce tiering risk.

The Ripple exec closed by positioning the choice for central banks as strategic: resist stablecoins and risk the market scaling beyond official influence, or “bring them inside the tent,” shaping development through prudential oversight and infrastructure access as tokenized settlement rails mature.

At press time, XRP traded at $1.9216.

The world's largest stock exchange is developing a blockchain-based platform for tokenized securities that would operate around the clock.

The post New York Stock Exchange Unveils Tokenized Securities Platform appeared first on TechRepublic.

The Clarity Act is meant to give the US crypto market something it has lacked for years: a clear legal framework defining how digital assets are regulated, who oversees them, and how crypto companies can operate without constant regulatory uncertainty. That goal is now reportedly under pressure. 

Rumors are that a growing rift between the White House and Coinbase has raised the possibility that the administration could pull its support for the bill, putting one of the most closely watched pieces of crypto legislation at risk.

White House Frustration With Coinbase

According to reporting shared on X by Eleanor Terrett, sources close to the White House say the administration is considering pulling its support for the Clarity Act if Coinbase does not return to negotiations over stablecoin yield provisions. The issue centers on finding an arrangement that satisfies both crypto firms and traditional banks, particularly community banks that lawmakers see as a core stakeholder in the bill.

The source described Coinbase’s recent move as a unilateral action that caught the White House off guard, characterizing it as a rug pull against both the administration and the entire crypto industry. Officials reportedly pushed back against the idea that a single company could speak for the entire sector, stressing that the legislation reflects the policy agenda of US President Donald Trump and not the priorities of Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong.

The Clarity Act is designed to define regulatory boundaries between US agencies and provide clearer rules for crypto markets, including how stablecoins and yield-bearing products are treated. 

Behind the dispute is a broader struggle between the White House and Coinbase over how crypto yield products should coexist with banking regulations. The White House’s position, as described by Terrett, is that reaching consensus with banks is essential for the bill to move forward.

Brian Armstrong Pushes Back On Rug Pull Claims

Coinbase is the largest crypto exchange and crypto custodian in the US, and this has naturally placed the company at the center of negotiations with the Trump administration. The scoop from Eleanor Terrett’s source is that White House officials think Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong is not cooperating, as the bill is President Trump’s bill at the end of the day, not Armstrong’s.

However, the Coinbase CEO publicly rejected the notion that relations with the White House have soured. Responding directly to the report on X, Armstrong said the administration has been super constructive and confirmed that Coinbase is actively working to find common ground with banks on yield-related issues.

He added that the company is in the process of figuring out a deal with community banks, which is the important focus of the bill. Negotiations are currently open, and Armstrong noted that further details would be shared soon. 

Nonetheless, the standoff leaves the Clarity Act in a delicate position, as both sides attempt to shape the future of US crypto regulation without fracturing industry-wide support.

Featured image from Coinbase, chart from TradingView

Starting January 28, 2026, Google Play will stop allowing downloads and updates of overseas crypto exchange and wallet apps in South Korea unless those platforms prove they are registered with the country’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).

Registration Proof Must Be Uploaded

According to Google’s new rule, developers listing crypto exchange or custodial wallet apps must upload evidence that their VASP registration has been accepted by the FIU through the developer console. This is not a technical tweak — it ties app distribution directly to local regulatory approval.

The result is immediate and practical. For Android users in Korea, apps from major overseas platforms will no longer be available for new installs or for updates through Google Play. Existing installations might keep working for a while, but they will not receive app updates or security fixes via the official store.

Local Crypto Platforms Lead Compliance

Based on reports, 27 domestic platforms have completed FIU registration, including well-known names such as Upbit and Bithumb. That leaves several major international exchanges without the needed paperwork, pushing them outside Google Play’s Korean marketplace.

For many users, this change will be felt quickly. If you rely on an overseas app to manage positions or move funds, the inability to download updates may make routine tasks harder and raise security risks. Web access to exchanges will remain an option, but it’s less convenient and sometimes less secure than using an official app.

Foreign exchanges face several demands to gain FIU acceptance. They often must set up a local legal entity, put in place anti-money-laundering systems, and obtain national information security certifications before their VASP filings are accepted. These steps can be costly and time consuming.

How The Market Might Shift

Some analysts say the move will push more trading volume toward Korea-registered firms. Others warn that it could encourage risky workarounds — such as downloading APKs from third-party sites or using VPNs — which expose users to fraud and malware. Reports say that upgrades to app-store rules follow earlier enforcement moves and aim to close gaps in oversight.

App availability will be tied to regulatory paperwork. If a platform shows FIU acceptance in Google’s console, its app can stay listed and updated. If not, the app will be removed or blocked from being updated in Korea’s Play Store.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Bitcoin literacy and community growth are accelerating in West Virginia, and it’s starting to reshape how communities across the state engage with digital finance. What was once viewed as a niche interest among tech enthusiasts is now gaining traction across broader segments of the state’s population. As residents become more curious about digital assets, conversations are shifting from speculation to understanding how BTC works and what it could mean for personal and regional economic resilience.

Bitcoin As A Tool For Regional Economic Growth

West Virginia has been making headlines in the Bitcoin space recently, particularly with fresh legislative moves as of January 2026. MartyParty revealed on X that the biggest current development is Senator Bill 143 (SB143), which was introduced this week by State Senator Chris Rose.

This is officially titled the Inflation Protection Act of 2026, which would allow the state’s Board of Treasury Investment to allocate up to 10% of public funds into precious metals like gold, silver, and platinum. The bill requires any qualifying digital asset to have maintained an average market capitalization of at least $750 billion over the prior year, which qualifies only BTC. In addition, the bill also allows for regulated stablecoins, but only the US federal or state regulators can approve the assets.

However, the bill frames this as a hedge against inflation and currency depreciation, and empowering the state treasurer to invest in BTC without directly naming it in most of the statute. Although the purpose section explicitly mentions empowering investment in gold, silver, and BTC. These assets would need to be made through qualified custodians, ETFs, or other secure frameworks.

What Pension Funds And Endowments Think About Bitcoin

The Bitcoin price prediction by funds indicates a bullish outlook for 2026. CryptoRank.io has mentioned that the institutional analysts are pricing in a bullish scenario for BTC in 2026. The average target across the forecasts shown is around $150,000 per BTC, implying roughly 75% upside from current levels.

At the same time, longer-term valuation models assume a more gradual growth path. Popular asset manager VanEck predicts BTC could reach approximately $2.9 million by 2050, which equates to around 15% annualized growth broadly in line with the BTC historical long-term performance as a macro asset.

In contrast to institutional forecasts, prediction markets maintain a more conservative outlook. On Polymarket, the pricing base-case range between $110,000 to $130,000. This consensus could shift toward the institutional targets if spot ETF inflows remain strong and if the US regulatory uncertainty continues to decline, including initiatives such as the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act.

As South Korea intensifies its push for crypto regulation, lawmakers have advanced a bill to establish a legal framework for issuing and trading security token offerings (STOs) using distributed ledger technology (DLT).

Lawmakers Amend Framework For Tokenized Securities

On Thursday, South Korea’s National Assembly passed key amendments to the Capital Markets Act and the Electronic Securities Act, creating a legal framework for the issuance and distribution of tokenized securities.

According to an official government release, the revised rules define tokenized securities as a broad category that extends to both debt and equity products, and recognize them as legitimate financial instruments.

The amendments to the Electronic Securities Act will allow qualified issuers to launch tokenized securities using distributed ledger technology. Meanwhile, the Capital Markets Act changes will enable the products to be traded as investment contract securities on brokerages and other licensed intermediaries.

Notably, the existing Capital Markets Act prohibited the distribution through securities firms, deeming investment contract securities “unsuitable for distribution due to their non-standard characteristics.”

The changes are “expected to enhance accessibility to investments and improve the provision of investment information for these securities,” the official government release stated.

After legislative approval, the bill will be submitted to the State Council, followed by official presidential promulgation. Therefore, the legislation is expected to be enacted one year after being signed into law, tentatively in January 2027.

Moreover, the Financial Services Commission (FSC) is set to lead the implementation, forming a joint “Token Securities Council” with relevant agencies to ensure seamless preparatory work, including the development of supporting infrastructure and enhanced safeguards.

The consultation body will comprise the FSC, the Financial Supervisory Service, the Korea Securities Depository, the Financial Investment Association, industry participants, and experts.

South Korea’s Crypto Regulatory Push Continues

This major step follows South Korea’s efforts to develop and establish clear, comprehensive rules to regulate the local crypto industry. Last week, the government shared its 2026 Economic Growth Strategy, which included a plan to open its market to Bitcoin (BTC) Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) this year.

Crypto-based ETFs have been banned in South Korea since 2017. In 2024, the country’s regulator reaffirmed its stance after the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved the investment products. However, it has now cited the success of the US and Hong Kong’s crypto funds as a key factor for their shift.

The FSC will also accelerate the next phase of its digital asset legislation this quarter to establish a clear regulatory framework for stablecoins. As reported by Bitcoinist, South Korea’s Second Phase of the Virtual Asset User Protection Act was delayed until the start of 2026 due to an ongoing disagreement between the FSC and the Bank of Korea (BOK).

The financial authorities have been clashing for months over rules related to the issuance and distribution of stablecoins, disagreeing on the extent of banks’ role in the issuance of won-pegged tokens.

Nonetheless, the main policies of the crypto framework have been decided, set to include investor protection measures, such as no-fault liability for crypto asset operators and isolation of bankruptcy risks for stablecoin issuers.

Moreover, the country is lifting its long-standing ban on institutional crypto trading, which is anticipated to begin later this year. According to local reports, the FSC is considering a rule to limit corporate cryptocurrency investments at 5% of a company’s equity capital.

Under the latest proposal, eligible firms would be able to allocate up to 5% of equity capital per year to digital assets, limited to the top 20 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. The final draft version could be released as early as January or February.

The year 2026 is turning out to be a promising and exciting one, especially for Ripple, as the leading payment firm continues to carry out strategic moves to bolster operations in the crypto and financial sectors. One of the most recent moves making waves in the space is the investment to support LMAX and strengthen market infrastructure.

LMAX Gains Major Boost With Ripple Investment

A recent report discloses that Ripple has taken yet another significant step in its institutional expansion by investing to support LMAX’s worldwide business strategy. With the aim of reinforcing its commitment to building a robust, enterprise-grade market infrastructure, the firm has invested over $150 million to support this strategy.

Ripple’s move underscores its focus on strengthening the railroads that link digital assets with traditional finance, expanding access to regulated trading platforms, and deepening liquidity. Such a move marks the persistent efforts of the company in transforming global trading models.

According to market expert and trader Pumpius on X, this is a far bigger move than a simple strategic investment from the payment firm. Instead, it is a strategic integration move aimed at hardwiring the adjacency of XRP to institutional price discovery and execution infrastructure.

The expert highlighted that LMAX operates high-performance, low-latency venues for FX, metals, and digital assets, which are being used by banks, funds, and professional liquidity providers. This creates a period where size is traded under stringent regulatory standards, and risk is controlled.

By supporting LMAX’s global expansion, Pumpius stated that Ripple is making sure XRP is positioned within venues that institutions already trust for hedging funds, market making, and balance sheet management. This seems to be a better move in comparison to relying on fragmented retail liquidity.

Interestingly, this bolsters Ripple’s end-to-end stack across settlement, liquidity provisioning, custody, and execution. While it may seem complex, this is vital since tokenized deposits, compliant stablecoins, and on-chain settlement are shifting into production.

However, Pumpius added that the outcome is deeper liquidity, tighter spreads, and routine XRP usage within regulated market infrastructure, long before the wider market notices the underlying shift.

XRP Charting Path To New All-Time High?

XRP is regaining bullish traction as market structure points to a historical trend that preceded a massive wave up to previous highs. From a weekly timeframe chart shared by ChartNerd, XRP is forming a pivotal Golden Cross pattern, which could shape its next trajectory.

It is worth noting that the last time this pattern appeared on the weekly Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD), the altcoin rallied to new all-time highs. With the same structure unfolding, a similar price trend is expected to occur.

Currently, the MACD is in oversold territory, and the Golden Cross formation is expected to form in the upcoming weeks. Given that the market structure is protecting a 400-day defense zone, expansion seems likely.

West Virginia lawmakers have taken a step toward letting the state put a slice of its cash into gold, stablecoins and very large cryptocurrencies. Senate Bill 143, introduced on January 15, 2026, is being called the Inflation Protection Act and was filed by State Senator Chris Rose.

Inflation Protection Act Details

According to the proposal, the State Treasury Board could place up to 10% of certain treasury accounts into a limited list of nontraditional assets.

Those assets would include precious metals like gold and silver, regulator-approved stablecoins, and digital currencies that meet a very high market-cap test. The bill sets that threshold at US$750 billion averaged over the prior calendar year.

The Market Cap Door Is Narrow

Based on reports, only the largest cryptocurrencies would clear that bar. At the moment, that effectively names Bitcoin as the sole qualifying digital asset, given the US$750 billion requirement. That choice was framed as a way to limit exposure to volatile or fringe tokens.

How The State Could Hold These Assets

The bill does not demand one custody model. Instead, it allows the treasury to hold metals or crypto directly, to use exchange-traded products, or other approved custody setups. The language also contemplates tools like staking or ETPs as options for generating returns, but it attaches rules intended to reduce operational and security risks.

A Policy Shift At The State Level

Rose and backers present the move as a hedge against inflation and a way to diversify reserves beyond bonds and cash. Opponents are likely to press on fiduciary duty, volatility, and the risks of adopting assets with rapid price swings.

The debate taps into a wider trend: several US states have been exploring ways to create strategic reserves that include precious metals or crypto.

What Happens Next

SB 143 has been assigned to the Committee on Banking and Insurance, with further review expected before any vote. Lawmakers will weigh technical safeguards, reporting rules, and how to audit and insure holdings before moving the measure forward.

If implemented, the plan would let West Virginia place a modest, capped portion—10%—of qualifying funds into a narrow set of assets aimed at preserving buying power.

Supporters argue it is a cautious experiment; critics say the risk profile of crypto still demands care. Either way, the proposal will force a detailed policy discussion in Charleston about how public money should be managed when new financial tools are on the table.

Featured image from Corcoran, chart from TradingView

According to Wintermute’s 2025 Digital Asset OTC Markets report, altcoin rallies last year were much shorter than traders expected, averaging about 19–20 days. That is a steep drop from the roughly 60-day runs seen in 2024.

Market flows tightened, and many smaller tokens saw gains vanish faster than before. The result: capital moved back into the big names — Bitcoin and Ethereum — where liquidity is deeper.

Altcoin Open Interest Drops

Based on reports, one key trigger was a sharp deleveraging on October 10, 2025, which pushed retail traders to reduce risk and rotate out of smaller tokens.

Open interest in many altcoin futures contracts fell, with some coverage noting about a 55% decline in altcoin futures open interest since October.

Trading desks said lower liquidity made it harder for rallies to keep going beyond a few weeks, turning what used to be multi-month moves into short bursts.

Major Coins Reclaimed Center Stage

Institutional flows and product structures played a role. Reports have disclosed that ETFs and other institutional channels helped funnel funds toward Bitcoin and Ethereum. As a result, the market’s attention narrowed.

Where narratives once pushed dozens of tokens into rallies, more capital was now concentrated in the top tier. Traders say they preferred assets where orders could be filled without dramatically moving the price.

Short, Intense Moves Replaced Long Trends

Wintermute’s analysis points to a change in how momentum forms. Rally drivers became more tactical and less about broad, lasting narratives. In practice, that meant memecoin pumps and exchange-themed rallies burned out quickly.

Some traders described these moves as hair-trigger events: quick upswings followed by equally rapid retracements. Liquidity bands tightened and stops were hit sooner than in past cycles.

What Traders And Firms Are Watching

Market participants say the path to a sustained altcoin season now requires a few things aligning. Reports indicate renewed retail interest, clearer institutional support for smaller tokens, and calmer macro markets could help.

Otherwise, rallies are likely to remain short. Execution desks reported that when big buyers reappeared for a token, it could run fast, but keeping that momentum proved difficult without deeper market participation.

Outlook For 2026

Based on the report and market commentary, a broader crypto rebound in 2026 depends on several moving parts: interest from institutions, shifts in macro rates, and retail returning to risk-on strategies.

If those elements arrive, rallies might last longer than the 19–20 day average seen in 2025. If not, traders say the pattern of quick, sharp moves into the majors will continue.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

The CEO of Bank of America has warned that trillions of dollars could flee from bank deposits to the stablecoin sector if the upcoming crypto market structure bill allows interest payments on the tokens.

Banking System Could Face $6 Trillion Problem

On Wednesday, Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan told investors that the banking industry could face significant challenges if the US Congress does not prohibit interest-bearing stablecoins.

During its Q4 earnings call, the executive affirmed that up to $6 trillion in deposits, around 30% to 35% of all US commercial bank deposits, could flow out of the banking system and into the stablecoin sector, citing Treasury Department studies.

The banking sector has heavily criticized the US’s landmark stablecoin legislation, the GENIUS Act, for months, claiming that it has loopholes that could pose risks to the financial system. Notably, the crypto framework prohibits interest payments on the holding or use of payment-purpose stablecoins but only addresses issuers.

Multiple banking associations across the US sent a joint letter to the Senate Banking Committee urging Congress to amend the law to include digital asset exchanges, brokers, dealers, and related entities.

According to the call’s transcript, Moynihan compared the digital assets to money market mutual funds, which require reserves to be held in short-term instruments, such as US Treasuries, thereby reducing lending capacity in the system.

That is the bigger concern that we’ve all expressed to Congress as they think about this, if you move it outside the system, you’ll reduce the lending capacity of banks. (…) And if you take out deposits, (…) they’re either not going to be able to loan or they’re going to have to get wholesale funding and that wholesale funding will come at a cost that will increase the cost of borrowing.

The CEO asserted that Bank of America would not be affected by this issue, as the institution would be able to “meet customer demand, whatever may surface.” However, he noted that it would particularly hurt small- and medium-sized businesses, as they’re “largely lent to end consumers by the banking industry.”

Stablecoin Rewards Debate Intensifies

Moynihan’s remarks come amid the Senate’s struggles with the long-awaited market structure bill. The recently shared draft, which was scheduled for a markup today, has raised concerns among crypto industry leaders, who have outlined multiple problems with the bill.

Coinbase’s CEO, Brian Armstrong, took to X to share his disappointment with the legislation, affirming that “this version would be materially worse than the current status quo. We’d rather have no bill than a bad bill.”

He affirmed that, after reviewing the bill’s draft, Coinbase could not support it in its current state, arguing that there were “too many issues.” Among the problems, he noted the de facto ban on tokenized equities, crucial DeFi prohibitions, the “erosion” of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)’s authority, and the policies regarding the payment of interests on stablecoins.

As reported by Bitcoinist, this version of the market structure bill introduced key restrictions for stablecoin issuers. Under the proposed changes, issuers would be able to offer rewards for specific actions, such as account openings and cashback.

However, they are prohibited from offering interest payments to passive token holders. To Armstrong, this “would kill rewards on stablecoins,” and allow banks to “ban their competition.”

Amid the intensified backlash, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott announced on Wednesday that the bill’s markup had been postponed to “deliver clear rules of the road that protect consumers, strengthen our national security, and ensure the future of finance is built in the United States.”