Dollar slumps on policy fears, gold soars above $5,000 amid geopolitics, while central banks pause, markets driven by political volatility.   The Great Greenback Retreat: US Dollar Hits 2026 Lows The US Dollar is currently navigating a perfect storm of institutional skepticism and technical weakness, with the DXY tumbling to levels not seen since September 2025. This "collapse" is largely attributed to a sudden shift in currency diplomacy; headlines suggest the New York Fed has been questioning banks about their USD/JPY positions, sparking intense speculation that the US is finally ready to assist Japan in propping up the Yen. This potential for coordinated intervention, combined with mounting unease over President Trump’s trade rhetoric and his upcoming choice for the next Federal Reserve Chair, has led investors to aggressively trim their Dollar exposure. As the Greenback’s role as the undisputed reserve currency faces these new political and fiscal headwinds, the market is pricing in a future where the "mighty Dollar" may have a significantly shorter leash. Gold’s Historic Ascent Beyond the $5,000 Milestone In a move that has stunned commodity markets, Gold has officially entered a parabolic phase, smashing through the $5,000 barrier to reach a staggering record high of $5,111 per ounce. This rally is the ultimate expression of a "flight to safety" as geopolitical friction intensifies, particularly regarding the escalating trade disputes between the US, Europe, and Canada over territories like Greenland. Beyond the geopolitical noise, the surge is fundamentally supported by a weak US Dollar and a robust appetite from central banks in emerging markets like China and India, who are diversifying their reserves at a record pace. With Bullion gaining nearly 18% in the first month of 2026 alone, the metal has transcended its status as a mere inflation hedge to become the primary beneficiary of a fractured global order. A Global Policy Standoff: Central Banks on the Brink Despite the chaotic price action in currencies and commodities, the world’s most powerful central banks are currently locked in a strategic holding pattern. The Federal Reserve is widely expected to keep interest rates steady at 3.50%-3.75% this Wednesday, but the "pause" is anything but calm. Markets are hyper-fixated on Jerome Powell’s forward guidance and the looming transition of Fed leadership, which has created a sense of policy paralysis. Similarly, the Bank of Canada is expected to hold at 2.25% as it navigates the precarious line between domestic stability and the threat of 100% US tariffs. This collective "wait and see" approach has shifted the market's focus away from interest rate differentials and toward the raw volatility of political headlines, leaving traders to wonder how long this uneasy equilibrium can last. Top upcoming economic events:     1. 01/27/2026: ECB’s President Lagarde Speech As the head of the European Central Bank, Christine Lagarde’s words carry the highest impact for the Euro. Her speech is critical as markets look for clues on whether the ECB will continue its "holding bias" or if rising geopolitical tensions and trade barriers are forcing a shift in policy. Any mention of "asymmetric impacts" on growth across the Eurozone could trigger immediate currency volatility. 2. 01/28/2026: Fed Interest Rate Decision This is the week's "anchor" event. Following a series of cuts in late 2025, the Federal Reserve enters 2026 with a divided committee. Markets widely expect a hold at the current 3.5%–3.75% range. Investors will be laser-focused on whether the Fed maintains its "one more cut" projection for the year or if sticky inflation (currently near 2.4%) has pushed further easing off the table. 3. 01/28/2026: FOMC Press Conference Immediately following the rate decision, Chair Jerome Powell’s press conference is where the real market movement often happens. He will likely address the "K-shaped" economy—where higher-income households remain resilient while others struggle—and provide the Fed's stance on the new fiscal policies and trade uncertainties taking shape in early 2026. 4. 01/28/2026: BoC Interest Rate Decision The Bank of Canada is in a delicate position. Most economists expect a hold at 2.25%, but the decision is a toss-up between staying patient and reacting to a cooling labor market. Because the BoC hit its "neutral range" faster than the Fed, this meeting will signal if Canada is ready to diverge from US policy to protect its own domestic growth. 5. 01/28/2026: Consumer Price Index (YoY) - AUD This is the most significant data point for the Australian Dollar this week. With the RBA keeping a close eye on "trimmed mean" inflation, a high reading here would likely kill any hopes of a February rate cut. It serves as a vital health check on whether Australian consumer prices are finally stabilizing or if service-side inflation remains too hot. 6. 01/26/2026: Durable Goods Orders - USD This provides a first-hand look at the health of the US manufacturing sector. After a bumpy end to 2025, analysts are looking for a rebound in orders. Because durable goods represent big-ticket items, this data acts as a leading indicator for industrial production and overall capital spending for the first quarter of 2026. 7. 01/27/2026: Consumer Confidence - USD The US economy remains consumer-led, making this sentiment index a major market mover. If confidence remains high despite elevated interest rates, it gives the Fed more "room to move" (or hold) without fearing an immediate recession. Conversely, a sharp drop would signal that the "lower spur" of the economy is finally reaching a breaking point. 8. 01/27/2026: BoJ Monetary Policy Meeting Minutes While not a "live" rate decision, these minutes are crucial for understanding the Bank of Japan’s internal debate on exiting its long-standing easy-money era. Traders will scan the text for any hawkish shifts regarding the Corporate Service Price Index or concerns about the Yen’s value relative to a stabilizing US Dollar. 9. 01/29/2026: Initial Jobless Claims - USD In a week dominated by the Fed, the weekly labor data takes on extra weight. The Fed has explicitly stated that labor market resilience is a key factor in their "wait and see" approach. A significant "miss" in these numbers could shift the narrative from "inflation-fighting" to "recession-preventing" almost overnight. 10. 01/26/2026: IFO – Business Climate - EUR This is Germany's most influential business sentiment survey. Given that Germany has struggled with falling exports and industrial weakness, the IFO index will reveal if the "locomotive of Europe" is starting to see a cyclical upswing in 2026 or if it remains the primary drag on the Eurozone's recovery.   The subject matter and the content of this article are solely the views of the author. FinanceFeeds does not bear any legal responsibility for the content of this article and they do not reflect the viewpoint of FinanceFeeds or its editorial staff. The information does not constitute advice or a recommendation on any course of action and does not take into account your personal circumstances, financial situation, or individual needs. We strongly recommend you seek independent professional advice or conduct your own independent research before acting upon any information contained in this article.

How Large Has BitMine’s Ethereum Position Become? BitMine Immersion has pushed its Ethereum holdings to 4,243,338 ETH following its latest weekly purchases, making it the largest known corporate holder of ether by a wide margin. At current prices, the company’s ETH stack is valued at roughly $12.3 billion, with total crypto and cash holdings reported at $12.8 billion. The company disclosed that it acquired an additional 40,302 ETH since its previous update on Jan. 20. While BitMine did not provide an average purchase price, the most recent acquisition is worth about $117 million based on prevailing market levels. BitMine’s Ethereum holdings now represent about 3.52% of Ethereum’s circulating supply, which stands near 120.7 million ETH. That figure places BitMine almost five times ahead of its closest Ethereum-focused treasury peers, underscoring how concentrated its exposure has become relative to the rest of the market. Investor Takeaway With more than 3.5% of circulating ETH under its control, BitMine’s balance sheet is increasingly tied to Ethereum price, liquidity, and staking economics. Why Staking Is Central to the Strategy Nearly half of BitMine’s Ethereum is already committed to staking. As of Jan. 25, the company reported 2,009,267 ETH staked, an increase of 171,264 ETH over the prior week. That scale places BitMine among the largest staking participants globally. Chairman Tom Lee highlighted the income implications of that exposure, pointing to the revenue potential once the company’s ETH is fully deployed across its staking partners. “BitMine has staked more ETH than other entities in the world,” Lee said. “At scale (when BitMine's ETH is fully staked by MAVAN and its staking partners), the ETH staking fee is $374 million annually (using 2.81% CESR), or greater than $1 million per day.” For treasury-focused firms, staking income changes the risk profile of holding large crypto balances. Rather than relying solely on price appreciation, BitMine is tying its results to protocol-level yield, validator performance, and network participation. How BitMine Compares With Other Crypto Treasury Firms BitMine is now the largest Ethereum treasury holder among public companies. Data cited in the report places Joe Lubin’s SharpLink at roughly 863,021 ETH and The Ether Machine at about 496,712 ETH, far behind BitMine’s current total. Across all public crypto treasury companies, BitMine ranks second only to Strategy, the firm led by Michael Saylor, which recently disclosed holdings of 712,647 bitcoin worth about $62.5 billion. That bitcoin stack represents roughly 3.4% of bitcoin’s fixed 21 million supply, a concentration that mirrors BitMine’s growing share of Ethereum. Beyond ETH, BitMine’s balance sheet includes 193 BTC valued at around $17 million, a $19 million stake in Worldcoin-linked treasury firm Eightco, $682 million in cash, and a $200 million investment in MrBeast’s Beast Industries announced earlier this month. While these assets diversify the portfolio, Ethereum remains the dominant driver. Investor Takeaway BitMine’s scale puts it closer to a single-asset treasury model, similar to large bitcoin-focused firms, with ETH staking yield acting as a partial offset to price volatility. What Targeting 5% of ETH Supply Implies BitMine has stated that it intends to accumulate up to 5% of Ethereum’s circulating supply, which would equate to about 6.04 million ETH at current issuance levels. Reaching that threshold would place the company among the most influential non-protocol participants in the Ethereum ecosystem. Such concentration brings both upside and constraints. Large holdings offer scale advantages in staking and collateral usage, but they also raise questions around liquidity management, exit risk, and exposure to changes in Ethereum’s reward structure. Market perception also matters. BitMine’s stock moved only modestly following the latest disclosure, rising 0.1% over the past week before slipping around 2% in pre-market trading. That muted reaction suggests investors may already be pricing in the company’s aggressive ETH accumulation or waiting for clearer signals from earnings and staking returns. Institutional Mood Adds Context Lee recently pointed to a changing tone among institutional investors following discussions at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where digital assets featured heavily alongside artificial intelligence. “One of my takeaways from listening to speeches and media reports from Davos, it is clear to me that Wall Street has embraced crypto and blockchain assets and sees the convergence of traditional assets and digital assets. And similarly between crypto and AI convergence,” Lee said. That backdrop helps explain why firms like BitMine are willing to scale exposure so aggressively. As institutional participation deepens, treasury-style accumulation is increasingly framed as a long-term allocation choice rather than a speculative trade. What Comes Next for BitMine The next phase will hinge on execution rather than accumulation alone. Staking performance, counterparty arrangements, and the sustainability of Ethereum rewards will directly affect cash flow. At the same time, holding more than 4 million ETH ties BitMine closely to network upgrades, regulatory treatment of staking, and broader market cycles. For investors, BitMine now functions less like a diversified crypto company and more like a leveraged Ethereum proxy with embedded yield. That structure offers clear upside in favorable conditions, but it leaves little room for error if network economics or market sentiment turn.

Nobody prays for a smart contract to fail, but have you ever considered what happens if it does? One moment your funds are safe, and the next, they could be gone forever. Decentralized insurance protocols exist for exactly this reason to protect you when on-chain failures occur. In this article, you will discover the top decentralized insurance solutions that can protect your assets while navigating the volatile world of DeFi, where code executes automatically and losses are final once transactions are confirmed on-chain. Key Takeaways • DeFi insurance protects against protocol failures rather than personal losses or custody issues. • Coverage is backed by pooled capital and executed through smart contracts, not centralized insurers. • Claims handling varies between platforms and affects overall reliability. • Capital efficiency and governance design are key differentiators. • Despite improving security standards, decentralized insurance protocols remain essential. Top Decentralized Insurance Protocols in DeFi 1. Nexus Mutual Nexus Mutual is the most established protocol in this category. It operates as a member owned mutual where participants both underwrite risk and vote on claims. Coverage includes smart contract exploits, oracle manipulation, governance attacks, and severe protocol failures. Claims are assessed through member voting, which has improved over time as participation and incentives evolved. Capital efficiency is lower than some newer designs, but reliability and historical performance remain strong. Nexus Mutual is often considered the reference model for decentralized insurance protocols. 2. InsurAce InsurAce focuses on broad coverage across multiple DeFi sectors. It offers protection for smart contracts, stablecoin DePegs, and cross protocol risks using diversified risk pools. Automation plays a large role in pricing and underwriting. The protocol focuses on capital efficiency while offering competitive premiums. Claims are evaluated through a mix of automated checks and governance mechanisms. InsurAce provides broad coverage, allowing protection across multiple exposures without juggling several policies. 3. Unslashed Finance Unslashed Finance takes a more modular approach to risk. Coverage products are tokenized, allowing capital providers to enter or exit pools with greater flexibility. It supports protection against exploits, oracle failures, and validator related risks. Claims processes rely heavily on predefined conditions rather than subjective voting. This reduces governance friction but increases dependence on accurate data sources. 4. Bridge Mutual Bridge Mutual operates as a peer to peer coverage marketplace. Users can provide capital, purchase coverage, and participate in claims governance through staking mechanisms. Coverage includes smart contract exploits, stablecoin failures, and exchange related risks. The protocol emphasizes decentralization and community driven decisions. While this increases transparency, it also introduces variability in claims outcomes depending on participation and incentives. 5. Etherisc Etherisc is best known for its insurance infrastructure. It enables the creation of custom insurance products using smart contracts and automated payouts. While not limited to DeFi, its framework supports protocol risk coverage and parametric designs. Claims can be triggered automatically based on predefined conditions, reducing manual intervention. Etherisc demonstrates how flexible tooling can expand the scope of decentralized insurance protocols beyond standardized products. Final Thoughts DeFi removed intermediaries but left users exposed to direct protocol risk. Insurance provides a framework that gives users predictable and well-structured protection. While not perfect, decentralized insurance protocols provide tools that did not exist in traditional finance or in the early days of crypto. As DeFi grows, insurance is likely to move from optional protection to a standard part of the system. Protocols that combine reliable risk modeling, transparent claims processes, and sustainable capital incentives will shape the next stage of the market. In the future, decentralized insurance will not be an extra feature but a core part of DeFi.

NZDUSD currency pair can be expected to rise to the next long-term resistance level 0.6000 (former monthly high from September and the target price calculated for the completion of the active impulse wave 3) – the breakout of which can lead to further gains toward the term resistance level 0.6050.   NZDUSD rising inside impulse wave 3 Likely to reach resistance levels 0.6000 and 0.6050 NZDUSD currency pair recently broke the resistance level 0.5835 (which stopped the previous sharp impulse wave (1) at the end of December) - which accelerated the active impulse wave 3. This impulse wave 3 then broke the resistance trendline of the daily up channel from November. The active impulse wave 3 belongs to the intermediate impulse wave (3) from the start of January. The impulse wave (3) is itself a part of the long-term upward impulse sequence 3 from the end of November. Given the strongly bullish New Zealand dollar sentiment seen across the FX markets coupled with strong US dollar sales, NZDUSD currency pair can be expected to rise to the next long-term resistance level 0.6000 (former monthly high from September and the target price calculated for the completion of the active impulse wave 3) – the breakout of which can lead to further gains toward the term resistance level 0.6050. [caption id="attachment_186995" align="alignnone" width="800"] NZDUSD Technical Analysis[/caption] The subject matter and the content of this article are solely the views of the author. FinanceFeeds does not bear any legal responsibility for the content of this article and they do not reflect the viewpoint of FinanceFeeds or its editorial staff. The information does not constitute advice or a recommendation on any course of action and does not take into account your personal circumstances, financial situation, or individual needs. We strongly recommend you seek independent professional advice or conduct your own independent research before acting upon any information contained in this article.

What Is Kraken Launching? Kraken is introducing a new product designed to give centralized exchange users access to decentralized finance yield without leaving the platform. The product, called DeFi Earn, is being rolled out across Canada, the European Economic Area, and most U.S. states, crypto outlet The Block reports. DeFi Earn offers onchain earning opportunities with advertised annual yields of up to 8%, while keeping the interface, custody, and operational flow familiar to centralized exchange users. Kraken said the goal is to combine onchain yield generation with the security and usability standards users expect from a regulated trading venue. The launch reflects a broader effort by centralized exchanges to reduce the friction between custodial platforms and decentralized protocols, particularly as user appetite for passive yield has returned alongside higher onchain lending demand. Investor Takeaway Kraken’s approach shows how centralized exchanges are competing to retain user balances by embedding DeFi yield directly into custodial platforms rather than sending users off-platform. How the DeFi Earn Structure Works Kraken’s DeFi Earn product is built on vault infrastructure provided by Veda. The initial focus is on USDC-denominated vaults, which will allocate capital across established onchain lending protocols including Aave, Morpho, Sky, and Tydro. Risk oversight for the first three vaults will be handled by Chaos Labs and Sentora. According to Kraken, the vaults will route user deposits into onchain markets where returns are generated from borrower demand, resulting in variable yields rather than fixed rates. Kraken said users will be shown offered rates, applicable fees, and relevant risk disclosures before depositing funds. Withdrawals are expected to be typically instant, though the exchange noted that delays may occur during periods of constrained liquidity. By keeping custody and access within Kraken’s existing framework, the exchange is attempting to lower the operational and technical barriers that have traditionally limited DeFi participation to more experienced users. Why Centralized Platforms Are Building DeFi Bridges Kraken’s launch follows a broader pattern among centralized crypto firms seeking tighter integration with onchain markets. Exchanges and custodians have increasingly viewed DeFi as infrastructure rather than a competing ecosystem, especially as users demand yield opportunities that go beyond simple staking products. Other major platforms have taken similar steps by embedding decentralized trading or lending features into their core products. These integrations allow users to access onchain markets without managing wallets, private keys, or protocol-level interactions directly. For exchanges, the strategy also addresses a business challenge. Yield-bearing products help keep user assets on-platform at a time when competition for deposits has intensified. For users, the appeal lies in accessing onchain returns while avoiding the complexity and risk management burden of direct DeFi participation. Kraken framed DeFi Earn as part of a broader effort to broaden the audience for decentralized finance. “With DeFi Earn, we’re moving decentralized finance from a hobbyist’s pursuit to a mainstream financial utility,” said John Zettler, a director at Kraken. “It unlocks real-time, transparent rewards in a way that feels natural to anyone.” Investor Takeaway Products like DeFi Earn blur the line between CeFi and DeFi, raising questions about where protocol risk ends and exchange responsibility begins. How Risk Management Is Being Positioned Risk controls are central to Kraken’s pitch. Chaos Labs and Sentora will oversee allocation and risk parameters for the initial vaults, a role that reflects growing demand for third-party risk oversight in onchain yield products. Chaos Labs highlighted the lack of institutional-grade infrastructure as a longstanding obstacle for broader adoption of onchain lending. “Onchain yield has lacked the infrastructure institutions expect,” said Chaos Labs CEO Omer Goldberg. “Launching Chaos Vaults on Kraken changes that, bringing AI-powered risk intelligence to millions of users.” Despite these assurances, the underlying yields remain tied to decentralized lending markets, which can be sensitive to liquidity conditions, borrower demand, and protocol-level risks. Kraken’s disclosures emphasize that returns are variable and that users retain exposure to onchain dynamics, even when accessing them through a centralized interface. What Comes Next for CeFi–DeFi Integration? Kraken’s DeFi Earn launch highlights how exchanges are repositioning themselves as gateways to onchain finance rather than closed ecosystems. If successful, such products could normalize DeFi exposure for users who have never interacted directly with smart contracts. At the same time, the model raises open questions for regulators and users alike. Centralized access to decentralized protocols concentrates user flows through custodial intermediaries, potentially reshaping how risk, transparency, and accountability are perceived. For now, DeFi Earn adds to a growing set of hybrid products that sit between traditional exchange services and open onchain markets. As more platforms adopt similar structures, competition is likely to focus less on access itself and more on risk controls, liquidity management, and the range of protocols available through these curated vaults.

Why Did Metaplanet Record Such a Large Loss? Japanese bitcoin treasury firm Metaplanet reported an impairment charge of 104.6 billion yen, roughly $680 million, tied to its bitcoin holdings for the fiscal year ended December 2025. The write-down reflects the decline in bitcoin prices during the period and is recorded as a non-operating expense under accounting rules. The company said the impairment has no direct effect on cash flow or day-to-day operations, but it does materially affect reported earnings. With the charge included, Metaplanet expects a consolidated ordinary loss of 98.56 billion yen and a consolidated net loss of 76.63 billion yen for the year. The loss attributable to shareholders is projected at 54.02 billion yen. Final audited results are scheduled for release on Feb. 16. The company noted that accounting treatment for bitcoin holdings can lead to sharp swings in reported results during periods of price volatility. “While short-term accounting volatility is inherent to our business model, our medium-to-long-term BTC accumulation and capital strategy remain on track,” Metaplanet said in a statement. Investor Takeaway The impairment highlights how accounting rules can magnify earnings losses for bitcoin-heavy balance sheets, even when cash positions are unchanged. How Large Is Metaplanet’s Bitcoin Exposure? By the end of fiscal 2025, Metaplanet held 35,102 BTC, a sharp increase from 1,762 BTC a year earlier. The expansion reflects an aggressive accumulation strategy carried out during the year, including substantial purchases in the fourth quarter. According to an earlier disclosure from chief executive Simon Gerovich, the company spent $451.06 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, paying an average price of $105,412 per bitcoin. By Dec. 31, bitcoin was trading near $87,500, well below that average cost, driving the impairment charge. Because current accounting standards require bitcoin to be marked down when prices fall, but do not allow upward revaluation when prices recover, losses can remain on the books even if market prices later rebound. That asymmetry has become a defining feature of financial reporting for companies holding large digital asset reserves. Why Did the Company Raise Its Earnings Forecast? Despite the headline loss, Metaplanet revised its full-year 2025 earnings outlook higher. The company pointed to stronger-than-expected performance in its bitcoin income generation business, which uses derivatives and options strategies linked to bitcoin rather than relying solely on spot price appreciation. Revenue for fiscal 2025 is now projected at 8.9 billion yen, up 31% from the previous estimate of 6.8 billion yen. Operating income is forecast at 6.3 billion yen, compared with an earlier projection of 4.7 billion yen. The company said the revision reflects both higher trading income and greater flexibility in funding. It cited the issuance of Series B perpetual convertible preferred stock and access to a $500 million credit facility as factors that allowed it to deploy capital more efficiently across its income strategies. “As a result, we were able to deploy capital more flexibly than initially anticipated, expanding allocation to the Bitcoin Income Generation Business,” the company said. Investor Takeaway Metaplanet’s revised outlook suggests the firm is relying less on bitcoin price gains alone and more on structured income strategies to support earnings. What Is Metaplanet Expecting for 2026? Looking ahead, Metaplanet issued preliminary forecasts for fiscal 2026 that point to continued growth in its income-focused operations. The company expects revenue of 16 billion yen and operating income of 11.4 billion yen, increases of nearly 80% and 81% respectively compared with its revised 2025 projections. The bitcoin income generation business is expected to account for 15.6 billion yen of that revenue, underscoring its central role in the firm’s financial planning. The forecast assumes continued use of derivatives and options as the main drivers of returns rather than further balance-sheet expansion through spot bitcoin purchases alone. Market reaction to the announcement was mixed. Metaplanet’s Tokyo-listed shares fell 7.03% to 476 yen, according to market data, reflecting investor sensitivity to the scale of the reported losses. In contrast, the company’s U.S.-traded shares on OTC Markets ended the prior session up 1.56% at $3.26. The divergence highlights the challenge facing bitcoin-focused corporates: balancing accounting losses tied to price swings with operating narratives built around alternative revenue streams. For Metaplanet, the coming year will test whether income generation can offset the reporting impact of holding a large and volatile digital asset reserve.

According to reports, the United Kingdom (UK) is nearing the completion of its digital asset regulatory journey as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) concludes the consultation phase on its proposed crypto rulebook. After soliciting feedback from industry stakeholders, consumer groups, and international partners, the FCA is preparing to finalize comprehensive rules that would govern stablecoins, crypto asset services, and market integrity standards under the UK’s new regulatory framework. The UK crypto consultation, which was launched to ensure the regime is balanced, clear, and aligned with global best practices, marks the final formal step before the FCA moves to the implementation of the rules in law. With the crypto landscape rapidly evolving and market participants calling for certainty, industry watchers see the near-completion of the rulebook as a plus for the UK’s competitiveness in digital finance. The UK FCA Consultation Ends With a Proposed Rulebook The FCA’s consultation covered a wide range of measures for governing the crypto ecosystem more robustly and transparently. Key elements under consideration included licensing requirements for crypto asset service providers (CASPs), custody and safeguarding standards, anti-money-laundering (AML) obligations, and new guardrails for stablecoin issuance and redemption. Under the proposed framework, custodial service providers, trading platforms, or advisory services involving crypto assets must meet specific regulatory thresholds, such as capital adequacy requirements, systems and controls, and ongoing compliance reporting. Personal and institutional protections were emphasized throughout the consultation, with the FCA signaling that investor safety and market integrity remain top priorities. Fiat-pegged stablecoins featured prominently in the consultation, with regulators exploring how to ensure adequate reserves, transparency in redemptions, and operational resilience. Ensuring that stablecoin issuers hold sufficient, high-quality liquid assets and maintain strict auditing protocols was a central theme of the proposed rules, reflecting lessons learned from past market stress events. The consultation also addressed market abuse and surveillance, calling for systems that can detect and deter manipulation, insider trading, and other illicit behaviors in crypto markets. These measures aim to bring crypto trading practices more in line with traditional markets, bolstering confidence among institutional investors who have been cautious about entering markets perceived as less structured. Notably, the FCA’s proposed rulebook was designed with flexibility in mind, recognizing the rapid pace of blockchain innovation. Industry Reactions and the Path to Implementation As the consultation phase closes, reaction from industry stakeholders has been mixed but generally constructive. Many firms expressed support for clear, proportionate rules that enable long-term planning and institutional engagement. Market participants highlighted the value of regulatory certainty in attracting capital, hiring talent, and building products that comply with the UK’s legal framework. At the same time, some respondents urged the FCA to avoid overly burdensome requirements for small firms and startups, noting that compliance costs could disproportionately affect early-stage innovators. The FCA has indicated it will now review all consultation responses before publishing final rules, which could then be laid before Parliament or enacted through secondary legislation.

What Was Found in the Exposed Database? A publicly accessible database containing millions of stolen login credentials has been uncovered by cybersecurity researcher Jeremiah Fowler, raising fresh concerns about the scale of infostealer malware activity targeting everyday devices. According to a blog post published Friday on ExpressVPN, the dataset included roughly 149 million usernames and passwords collected from malware-infected phones and computers. The credentials were linked to a wide range of online services, including major social media platforms, streaming services, and the cryptocurrency exchange Binance. Fowler said at least 420,000 of the exposed credentials were associated with Binance users. The broader dataset included 48 million Gmail accounts, four million Yahoo accounts, 17 million Facebook accounts, 6.5 million Instagram accounts, 3.4 million Netflix accounts, and 780,000 TikTok accounts. “This is not the first dataset of this kind I have discovered and it only highlights the global threat posed by credential-stealing malware,” Fowler wrote. He added that the records also included “financial services accounts, crypto wallets or trading accounts, banking and credit card logins,” based on a limited sample he reviewed. The exposed data totaled roughly 94 gigabytes and was accessible without authentication, meaning anyone who found the server could view or download the information. Fowler also flagged a concerning number of logins tied to government-linked email addresses and .gov domains, which could be exploited for phishing or impersonation attacks. Investor Takeaway The scale of the dataset highlights growing exposure risk at the user-device level, not just within centralized platforms, reinforcing the importance of endpoint security alongside exchange safeguards. Why This Is Not a Binance System Breach Security specialists stressed that the incident does not point to a breach of Binance’s internal systems. Instead, the stolen credentials were harvested through infostealer malware, a category of malicious software that quietly extracts saved logins and session data from compromised devices. “Infostealer is a known malware variant that steals user credentials when the users’ devices are compromised. Those are not leaks from Binance,” a Binance spokesperson said. The exchange emphasized that the exposure originated on end-user devices rather than within its own infrastructure. Deddy Lavid, chief executive of blockchain cybersecurity firm Cyvers, echoed that assessment, saying the incident reflects a data leak at the device level rather than a failure of exchange security controls. He said the case illustrates why security efforts increasingly focus on early detection of abnormal behavior before assets are moved, combined with stronger user-side practices such as hardware-based multi-factor authentication and secure password management. Binance said it monitors dark web marketplaces for leaked credentials, alerts affected users, forces password resets, and revokes compromised sessions when exposure is identified. In a March 2025 blog post, the exchange also urged users to deploy antivirus and anti-malware tools and to run regular security scans to reduce exposure to threats like infostealers. How Infostealer Malware Targets Crypto Users Infostealer malware has become a growing concern for cryptocurrency users because it targets browsers, wallet extensions, and locally stored credentials rather than centralized servers. Once installed, the malware can siphon login details, hijack accounts, and in some cases deploy additional payloads such as crypto miners. Cybersecurity firm Kaspersky reported in December 2025 on a new infostealer strain that disguises itself as a game cheat or modification, with a particular focus on cryptocurrency wallets and browser extensions. Discovered in November, the malware was spread through fake downloads that appeared to offer cracked software or gaming mods, including content marketed to players of Roblox. The malware is built to work across more than 100 browsers based on Chromium and Gecko engines, including Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, Brave, and others. Kaspersky said it also targeted users of at least 80 cryptocurrency services, ranging from centralized exchanges to popular self-custody wallets. Because the malware operates at the device level, even users of reputable platforms can be affected if their systems are compromised. Attackers can capture credentials, bypass basic security checks, and drain wallets before victims realize access has been lost. Investor Takeaway Infostealers reduce the protective value of platform-level security alone, making device hygiene and authentication controls a critical line of defense for crypto holders. What Users Can Do to Reduce Risk Fowler advised users to run reputable antivirus software on their computers and keep operating systems and mobile devices fully updated. He said outdated software and unofficial downloads remain among the most common entry points for infostealer infections. Security specialists also recommend avoiding cracked software, game cheats, and unofficial browser extensions, which are frequently used as distribution channels. Hardware-based authentication, unique passwords, and limiting saved credentials in browsers can further reduce exposure if a device is compromised.

Bitcoin is trading near $87,400 this week after slipping below the $90,000 level that many traders considered critical support. Ethereum has fared worse, dropping around 7% to hover near $2,860. The Fear & Greed Index has collapsed to 20, signaling extreme fear across the market as investors await the Federal Reserve's rate decision and monitor growing concerns over a potential US government shutdown. But while retail sentiment turns increasingly negative, institutional behavior tells a different story. Reports indicate that billionaire wallets and large funds are quietly buying BTC and ETH at these discounted levels. This divergence between fear and action is often a signal that smart money sees value where the crowd sees risk. That same pattern is playing out in the presale market, where Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) is emerging as what many analysts consider the best crypto to buy before the next cycle rotation. Why ZKP Stands Out in a Fearful Market ZKP is not a typical presale built on promises and roadmaps. The project was fully funded and constructed before public participation began. Over $100 million in internal capital went into infrastructure development, including a complete four-layer blockchain system and a hardware layer designed for verified AI computation. The network uses zero-knowledge cryptography to enable private computation with public verification. That means sensitive data can be processed without exposure, and results can be proven correct without revealing inputs. In a regulatory environment that is tightening globally, this capability positions ZKP as infrastructure rather than speculation. For investors searching for the best crypto to buy during periods of uncertainty, ZKP offers a combination that is difficult to find elsewhere — a working system, transparent distribution, and exposure to long-term trends in privacy and artificial intelligence. The Auction Mechanics That Make ZKP Different ZKP distributes tokens through a daily Initial Coin Auction that runs for 450 days across 17 stages. Each 24-hour window releases a fixed supply, and allocation is proportional to participation. Everyone in the same window pays the same effective price. There are no venture capital rounds. No insider pricing. No early unlock advantages. The structure removes the distortions that have plagued crypto launches for years. Stage 2 is now live, reducing daily supply from 200 million to 190 million tokens. Unallocated tokens are burned rather than carried forward. This creates a supply curve that tightens mechanically as stages progress, independent of market sentiment. Participation limits further reinforce fairness. A $20 minimum allows broad access while a $50,000 daily cap prevents concentration. The result is price discovery that unfolds gradually and transparently. Why Analysts Consider ZKP the Best Crypto To Buy Before Listing The current market environment has left most altcoins with heavy historical baggage. Charts are filled with resistance levels, and many tokens that ran in previous cycles are now struggling to find fresh demand. ZKP has none of that history. It has not listed yet. There are no resistance levels, no bag holders from previous cycles, and no chart patterns working against it. For investors seeking the best crypto to buy with clean price discovery ahead, ZKP represents one of the last opportunities of this kind. The project also ties token value to real contribution through its Proof Pod hardware layer. These devices perform verified AI computations and earn ZKP rewards, connecting token economics to actual network productivity rather than speculation. Positioning Before the Window Narrows With the Fed meeting underway and macro uncertainty elevated, risk assets across the board are under pressure. But history shows that periods of extreme fear often precede significant opportunities for those willing to position early. ZKP's presale auction offers defined mechanics in an otherwise chaotic environment. Supply is tightening. Access is narrowing. And the infrastructure is already built. For investors evaluating the best presale crypto to buy amid market fear, ZKP may be the asymmetric opportunity this cycle has been missing. Website: https://zkp.com/ Auction: http://buy.zkp.com/  X: https://x.com/ZKPofficial Telegram: https://t.me/ZKPofficial

Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, co-founder and former CEO of Binance, has ruled out any intention to return to the helm of the cryptocurrency exchange after his pardon by President Donald Trump. However, CZ hasn’t stepped back from bold market forecasts.  In recent public remarks, he predicted a “Bitcoin supercycle” in 2026, a forecast that has quickly reverberated across crypto social media, trading desks, and institutional research circles. The comments come at a pivotal moment for both Binance and the broader crypto ecosystem, as CZ’s bullish Bitcoin outlook doesn’t align with the current crypto market conditions.  CZ Says “No Turning Back” to Binance, But a Big Bitcoin Call In interviews and online statements, CZ was unequivocal about having no plans to return to steer Binance after stepping down from executive leadership amid regulatory scrutiny in multiple jurisdictions. Sources close to the founder say he intends to pursue broader projects and advisory roles rather than re-engage in day-to-day operations at one of crypto’s biggest exchanges. Yet while distancing himself from Binance’s executive responsibilities, CZ has doubled down on a bold macro call, forecasting a Bitcoin supercycle in 2026. In CZ’s words, increasing institutional adoption, rising blockchain-native financial infrastructure, and macroeconomic shifts such as persistent inflationary fears could converge to propel Bitcoin into an extended bullish phase. He also added that Bitcoin may break free from traditional cycle limitations and enter a new phase of sustained growth. The market response has been swift in both price action and sentiment indicators. Social engagement metrics spiked around CZ’s comments, while derivatives markets saw heightened open interest in Bitcoin futures. What a 2026 Supercycle Could Mean For Crypto Traders According to CZ, a supercycle is rooted in three broad drivers that, if experienced, could change how investors view Bitcoin’s role in diversified portfolios. The first is institutional adoption and treasury allocation. Zhao argues that large institutions, including pension funds, sovereign investors, and corporate treasuries, are gradually evolving their view of Bitcoin and crypto strategies. Should this trend accelerate in 2026, Bitcoin demand could outpace supply and cause upward price movements. Network and tech maturation is another factor. Bitcoin’s core infrastructure continues to evolve with upgrades aimed at improving scalability, security, and settlement efficiency, making Bitcoin more attractive for financial institutions and high-volume traders. However, critics of the supercycle concept point to regulatory uncertainties, fragmented institutional policy toward digital assets, and potential tightening of crypto oversight as headwinds. They caution that Bitcoin’s correlation with broader risk assets, seen in recent market downturns, could blunt supercycle aspirations if equities or credit markets weaken sharply. As investors process macroeconomic trends, regulatory developments, and institutional allocation patterns heading into 2026, CZ’s prognosis will remain a reference point in debates over where Bitcoin’s next major leg could take it.

Coinone, South Korea's third-largest cryptocurrency exchange, has confirmed it is exploring partnership opportunities that could involve the sale of a controlling stake held by its chairman and major shareholder, Cha Myung-hook. According to Seoul Economic Daily on January 25, the exchange is discussing various options, including equity investments from overseas exchanges and domestic financial institutions. Chairman Cha controls 53.44% of Coinone through a combination of personal shares (19.14%) and holdings via his private company, The One Group (34.30%). A Coinone spokesperson acknowledged the ongoing discussions but emphasized that “the specific method has not been decided.” One senior industry official told Seoul Economic Daily that Coinone had been offered as a block deal between late 2025 and early this year, with discussions reportedly reaching the due diligence stage. Financial pressures appear to be driving the potential sale. Coinone's book value declined to approximately 75.2 billion won (around $52.2 million) by the end of the third quarter of 2025, significantly below Com2uS's initial acquisition cost of 94.4 billion won, as the exchange continues to post operational losses. Chairman Cha recently returned to active management after stepping down from the CEO position four months earlier. While Coinone attributed his return to efforts to strengthen technological differentiation, industry observers view the move as preparation for a potential ownership transition. Coinbase Emerges as Potential Suitor Amid Market Transformation Market attention has focused on the potential involvement of Coinbase, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the United States. According to report, Coinbase executives are scheduled to visit South Korea this week to meet with major domestic companies, including Coinone. Industry officials noted that Coinbase maintains strong interest in South Korea due to the substantial size of the Korean investor base, and the American exchange is seeking partners to develop products that comply with Korean regulations. Coinbase has not officially launched operations under South Korean regulation despite serving customers in numerous countries worldwide. South Korea Doubles Down on Consumer Protection This development comes amid a broader market shift in South Korea. In an earlier proposal, the government urged the imposition of a maximum ownership cap for founders in local cryptocurrency startups. The proposal faced pushback from the South Korea Digital Asset Exchange Alliance (DAXA), which argued that the cap could put established private companies with existing governance structures at risk, potentially affecting operational stability and long-term user protection. On a broader scale, the country has been tightening regulations against money-laundering activities, particularly regarding user protection. As part of this effort, Dunamu, operator of South Korea’s largest crypto exchange, Upbit, was fined 35.2 billion won.

What Happened and Who Is Affected? Decentralized exchange aggregator Matcha Meta disclosed a security breach on Sunday after one of its primary liquidity providers, SwapNet, was exploited through a smart-contract vulnerability. The incident adds to a growing list of attacks that have targeted approval-based router contracts across DeFi. In a post on X, Matcha Meta warned that users who had previously granted token approvals to SwapNet’s router contract could be exposed. The protocol urged affected users to revoke all approvals tied to the router to limit further losses. Matcha Meta said the issue was connected to SwapNet rather than its own infrastructure. Loss estimates differ among security firms. CertiK put the figure at roughly $13.3 million, while PeckShield reported higher losses of at least $16.8 million on the Base network. PeckShield added that the attacker had already converted a large share of the proceeds and started moving funds off-chain. “So far, ~$16.8M worth of crypto has been drained. On Base, the attacker swapped ~10.5M USDC for ~3,655 ETH and has begun bridging funds to Ethereum,” PeckShield wrote in a Monday X post, again urging users to revoke approvals connected to the protocol. Investor Takeaway Approval-based router contracts remain a weak point in DeFi. Users who leave broad token approvals in place face ongoing exposure even after an exploit becomes public. How the Exploit Worked According to CertiK, the breach stemmed from an arbitrary call vulnerability in the SwapNet contract that allowed the attacker to move funds previously approved to the router. This type of flaw does not require compromising user wallets directly. Instead, it abuses permissions that users had already granted during routine trading activity. That distinction matters for understanding the scope of risk. Users who never interacted with SwapNet’s router contract are unlikely to be affected, while those who approved tokens in the past may still be vulnerable until approvals are revoked. Matcha Meta emphasized that the exposure was confined to SwapNet’s router and did not involve a compromise of Matcha Meta’s own systems. As of publication, Matcha Meta had not commented on whether affected users would be compensated or whether additional safeguards would be introduced. The lack of immediate clarity reflects a broader pattern in DeFi incidents, where responsibility can be blurred across aggregators, liquidity providers, and underlying smart contracts. Why Smart-Contract Attacks Keep Dominating Losses The SwapNet exploit follows a string of recent smart-contract incidents. Earlier this month, an attack on the offline computation protocol Truebit resulted in $26 million in losses and triggered a near-total collapse in the TRU token’s price. Together, these cases highlight how contract-level flaws can translate quickly into user losses and market disruption. Data from SlowMist’s year-end report shows that smart-contract vulnerabilities were the leading cause of crypto losses in 2025, accounting for 30.5% of all exploits across 56 incidents. Account takeovers and compromised social-media accounts ranked second, at 24%. For attackers, smart contracts offer scale. A single flaw can expose funds from thousands of users who have approved a contract, creating large payouts without the need to target individuals one by one. For users, the risk is less visible, since approvals often persist long after a trade is completed. Investor Takeaway The concentration of losses in smart-contract exploits suggests that technical risk, not market volatility, remains the primary threat vector in DeFi. The Role of AI in Finding Vulnerabilities Security researchers say advances in artificial intelligence are changing how contract weaknesses are discovered, for both defenders and attackers. In December, commercially available generative AI tools identified an estimated $4.6 million in exploitable smart-contract flaws across existing protocols. These findings suggest that vulnerability discovery is becoming faster and cheaper. While that can help auditors and white-hat researchers, it also lowers the barrier for malicious actors to scan deployed contracts for weaknesses that may have gone unnoticed during initial audits. For DeFi platforms, this environment raises the bar for ongoing monitoring. Audits conducted before launch may no longer be sufficient when contracts remain live for months or years, accumulating user approvals and value along the way. What Comes Next for Users and Protocols In the short term, the immediate action for affected users is clear: revoke all token approvals linked to SwapNet’s router contract. Tools for reviewing and canceling approvals have become a standard part of DeFi risk management, yet many users still overlook them.

How Widespread Are Bank Blocks on Crypto Transfers? Transfers between UK bank accounts and crypto exchanges are being blocked, delayed, or refused at scale, even when customers use regulated platforms, according to a new survey by the UK Cryptoasset Business Council. The findings point to a growing disconnect between the UK’s stated ambitions for digital assets and how the banking system treats the sector in practice. The survey, titled Locked Out: Debanking the UK’s Digital Asset Economy, draws on data from 10 of the UK’s largest centralized exchanges. Together, these firms serve millions of UK users and have processed hundreds of billions of pounds in transactions. The report was designed to replace anecdotal complaints with data on how banking policies affect crypto activity. Eight out of 10 exchanges said they had seen a rise over the past 12 months in customers facing blocked or restricted transfers, with none reporting any easing. Based on exchange data, the UKCBC estimates that around 40% of attempted transactions to crypto platforms are either blocked or delayed by banks. Investor Takeaway High rejection rates for fiat-to-crypto transfers risk slowing user growth and reducing onshore activity, even where demand for regulated platforms remains strong. What Are Exchanges Seeing on the Ground? The survey highlights sharp differences in how banks handle crypto-related payments. Most large high-street banks impose strict limits or outright blocks on both transfers and card payments to exchanges. Some challenger banks allow payments but enforce low caps or rolling 30-day limits. One UK-founded exchange reported nearly £1 billion in declined domestic transactions over the past year, largely due to bank-side rejections of card payments and open-banking transfers. Other exchanges described similar patterns, suggesting the issue is systemic rather than tied to individual institutions. Industry representatives argue that fraud concerns alone do not explain the scale of restrictions. Simon Jennings, executive director of the UK Cryptoasset Business Council, said, “We acknowledge that fraud is a legitimate concern and we actively want to work towards a solution. However, there is a widespread concern within the industry that banks are using compliance posture as a proxy to hinder growth of the sector.” Blanket Policies and FCA Registration Gaps A central theme of the report is the use of blanket policies. Exchanges say banks often fail to distinguish between Financial Conduct Authority–registered UK businesses and higher-risk overseas platforms, applying the same limits across the board. Qualitative feedback cited by the UKCBC points to inconsistent treatment “even against FCA-registered firms,” driven by standardised restrictions rather than transaction-level assessment. Jennings said engagement with exchanges showed that “payment blocks or limits are applied universally,” and that FCA registration “does not currently prevent these restrictions.” The lack of transparency compounds the issue. Every exchange surveyed said banks provide no clear explanation when payments are blocked or accounts restricted, leaving both firms and customers uncertain about what triggered the decision. Investor Takeaway Where banks apply uniform restrictions regardless of regulatory status, FCA registration offers limited practical relief for exchanges or their users. Why This Matters for the UK’s Crypto Ambitions Beyond consumer frustration, the UKCBC argues that current banking practices risk weakening the UK’s digital-asset ecosystem. The report concludes that debanking and payment friction are already pushing activity abroad and discouraging new products from being launched domestically. One exchange quoted in the survey said 60% of its customers expressed anger over repeated payment failures. Another described bank-imposed limits and bans as “the single biggest problem” when trying to grow or roll out new services in the UK. The UKCBC is calling on the government and the FCA to clarify that blanket bans are unacceptable and to push banks toward more granular, risk-based frameworks. These would distinguish between different exchanges and ease friction for FCA-registered firms. Jennings said that progress depends on dialogue, but warned that engagement has been limited so far. “If the UK is going to lead the global race, this cannot continue,” he said. As the UK moves toward finalising key crypto rules, the survey suggests that regulation alone may not be enough. Without changes in how banks handle crypto-related payments, access rather than demand could remain the binding constraint on the sector’s growth.

What Did Strategy Buy and at What Price? Michael Saylor’s Strategy disclosed another round of Bitcoin purchases as prices retreated during a wider market sell-off. According to a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, the company acquired 2,932 Bitcoin last week for about $264.1 million. The purchases were made at an average price of $90,061 per coin. Bitcoin began the week trading above $93,000 before briefly sliding below $87,000, based on market data cited alongside the filing. The timing places the acquisition squarely within a period of short-term weakness rather than near recent highs. Following the transaction, Strategy’s total Bitcoin holdings rose to 712,647 BTC. The company has now spent roughly $54.19 billion building that position, with an average acquisition cost of $76,037 per coin. Investor Takeaway Strategy continues to treat price pullbacks as entry points, adding Bitcoin even as broader markets show risk-off behavior. Why January Buying Stands Out Although the latest purchase was smaller than earlier January transactions, it adds to what has already been an unusually active month. Strategy previously disclosed buys of 22,305 BTC and 13,627 BTC earlier in January, accounting for the bulk of its recent accumulation. In total, the company has acquired about 40,100 BTC so far this month. That figure exceeds the combined purchases made between August and December 2025, marking a clear increase in buying pace compared with the previous five months. The pattern suggests a shift toward more frequent additions rather than concentrating exposure in single large transactions. The latest filing reinforces that approach, with capital deployed during periods of market softness rather than during rallies. How the Purchase Was Funded The SEC filing shows that the most recent Bitcoin acquisition was largely financed through equity sales. Strategy sold roughly 1.7 million shares of its Common A stock (MSTR) last week, raising about $257 million in proceeds. In addition, the company sold 70,201 shares of its Series A Perpetual Stretch Preferred Stock (STRC), generating a further $7 million. Together, those sales closely match the cash outlay required for the Bitcoin purchase. This funding method remains consistent with Strategy’s broader playbook, which relies on capital markets activity to support ongoing Bitcoin accumulation rather than operating cash flow. Investor Takeaway Equity issuance remains central to Strategy’s Bitcoin strategy, linking shareholder dilution directly to continued accumulation. What the Market Reaction Suggests At the time of the disclosure, Strategy’s shares were trading around $163, down about 12% from a January high near $185. The decline mirrors broader volatility in crypto-linked equities as Bitcoin pulled back more than 6% from recent peaks. While Saylor had previously said in 2024 that the company would keep buying Bitcoin even at elevated prices, recent activity points to a more measured approach. Larger purchases have given way to smaller additions during periods of weakness, reducing the risk of buying into short-term tops.

SEDA Experts has appointed David Baker as Managing Director, adding a senior equity trading specialist with more than 35 years of experience across buy-side and sell-side roles to its expert witness roster. The appointment strengthens SEDA’s equity markets and trading expertise, as Baker brings deep experience spanning long/short equity strategies, portfolio trading, and global equity markets, alongside senior leadership roles at major financial institutions. SEDA said Baker’s background aligns closely with the firm’s focus on providing independent, practitioner-led expertise to support complex litigation, regulatory matters, and disputes involving financial markets. A Career Spanning Buy-Side and Sell-Side Leadership Baker has spent more than three decades trading and managing risk across a wide range of equity strategies and market environments. “David is a storied equities trader with a broad swathe of experience on both the buy-side and sell-side,” said Peter Selman, Managing Partner of SEDA Experts. His career includes senior portfolio management roles at hedge funds and asset managers, as well as leadership positions at global investment banks where he oversaw large-scale trading operations and infrastructure. SEDA said this breadth of experience positions Baker to advise on matters involving best execution, market structure, trading practices, and risk management. Takeaway SEDA is deepening its equity trading bench with expertise that spans both institutional asset management and global sell-side trading operations. Portfolio Management Experience at Scale Prior to joining SEDA, Baker was a Portfolio Manager and Partner in the Asset Management division at Perella Weinberg Partners. In that role, he managed diversified equity and event-driven portfolios across multiple investment structures, including commingled funds, UCITS vehicles, and separately managed accounts. At peak, assets under management reached approximately $700 million. Beyond portfolio construction and trading, Baker was actively involved in global investor marketing, performance reporting, and presentations to institutional clients. SEDA noted that this combination of front-office trading, portfolio oversight, and investor-facing responsibilities adds practical context to Baker’s expert witness capabilities. Takeaway Hands-on portfolio management experience enhances credibility in disputes involving investment strategy and performance. Recent Role at Weiss Multi-Strategy Most recently, Baker served as Portfolio Manager and Partner at Weiss Multi-Strategy. There, he managed the firm’s Diversified Equities Long/Short and Equity Event strategy, overseeing approximately $600 million in capital. His investment approach combined fundamental analysis with macroeconomic, factor-based, technical, and sentiment-driven inputs. According to SEDA, the strategy was built on a process refined over more than 17 years of consistent, positive, and non-correlated performance relative to benchmarks. This experience gives Baker direct insight into portfolio construction, risk attribution, and performance evaluation—areas frequently scrutinized in investment-related litigation. Takeaway Long-term strategy development provides a strong foundation for expert analysis of investment decision-making. Senior Roles at Deutsche Bank Earlier in his career, Baker spent more than a decade at Deutsche Bank, where he held several senior leadership roles across the firm’s equities business. He served as a Portfolio Manager for long/short equity and event-driven strategies within Deutsche Bank’s proprietary trading platform, managing multi-billion-dollar risk allocations. Baker also held the role of Managing Director and Global Head of Equity Trading. In that capacity, he oversaw portfolio trading, index trading strategies, global cash trading, and the associated operations, risk management, and trading infrastructure. SEDA said these roles provided Baker with deep familiarity with best execution standards, futures trading, block trades, customer facilitation, market manipulation issues, and liquidity risk. Takeaway Sell-side leadership experience is critical in cases involving execution quality and market conduct. Early Career at Morgan Stanley Baker began his career at Morgan Stanley, where he served as Principal and Head of North America Program Trading. In that role, he was responsible for pricing and executing large-scale North American equity program trades. He also played an active role in the development of program trading and index arbitrage strategies during the early stages of those businesses. SEDA noted that this early exposure to evolving market structure and trading technology adds historical perspective to Baker’s expertise. Such experience is particularly relevant in disputes that require an understanding of how equity trading practices have evolved over time. Takeaway Market structure expertise benefits from both historical and contemporary trading experience. Academic and Industry Engagement In addition to his professional trading career, Baker is an Adjunct Professor of Finance at the University of Connecticut. He also serves on the Westchester/Connecticut Chapter Board of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, as well as on its National Advancement Committee. Baker holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Statistics from New York University. SEDA said his academic involvement reflects an ability to translate complex financial concepts into clear, structured analysis—an essential skill for expert testimony. Takeaway Teaching experience can enhance clarity and effectiveness in expert reports and testimony. Strengthening SEDA’s Equity Markets Practice SEDA Experts specializes in providing independent financial expert witness services to law firms, regulators, and financial institutions. The firm said Baker’s appointment further strengthens its capabilities in matters involving equity trading, portfolio management, market structure, and execution practices. With litigation and regulatory scrutiny increasingly focused on trading behavior, liquidity, and market impact, demand for experienced practitioners has grown. SEDA said Baker’s blend of buy-side portfolio management and sell-side trading leadership positions him to address a wide range of complex disputes. Takeaway Expert witness demand is rising in areas where trading strategy and execution intersect with regulation. Industry Context The appointment comes as equity markets continue to face heightened scrutiny around best execution, market manipulation, and trading transparency. At the same time, the increasing complexity of trading technology and fragmented liquidity has made expert analysis more critical in legal proceedings. Firms like SEDA are expanding their rosters to include practitioners with direct, hands-on experience navigating these dynamics at scale. Baker’s background reflects this trend toward sourcing experts with deep operational and strategic insight rather than purely academic credentials. Takeaway Courts and regulators increasingly value expert testimony grounded in real-world trading experience. Looking Ahead SEDA said Baker will advise on matters involving equity trading, portfolio strategy, execution quality, and market conduct across U.S. and international markets. As financial litigation grows more technical, the firm expects demand for senior trading experts to continue increasing. Baker’s appointment reflects SEDA’s strategy of expanding its expert network with practitioners who have operated at the highest levels of global finance. The firm said it will continue to add specialists across asset classes and disciplines to meet evolving client needs. Takeaway SEDA is positioning itself for continued growth as financial disputes become more complex and technical.

Japan could see its first cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs) listed as early as 2028, a move that would significantly lower the barrier for retail investors seeking exposure to digital assets. The development was reported by Nikkei, citing regulatory plans currently under review by the country’s Financial Services Agency (FSA). According to the report, the FSA intends to revise ETF rules by adding cryptocurrencies to the list of approved underlying assets, while simultaneously proposing stricter investor protection measures. If adopted, the changes would allow funds tracking assets such as Bitcoin to trade on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, offering investors access through traditional brokerage accounts rather than digital wallets. Japan has so far limited direct crypto investment to exchanges that require users to manage private keys, a process viewed as complex and risky for many retail investors. ETFs, which trade like stocks, would simplify access and align Japan’s market structure with other major financial centers. Institutions Position for Entry as Global Crypto Adoption Grows Major Japanese financial groups, including Nomura Holdings and SBI Holdings, are reportedly preparing to launch the country’s first crypto ETFs once regulatory approval is secured. Any proposed products would still require listing approval from the Tokyo Stock Exchange, underscoring Japan’s cautious approach to market entry. The move comes as cryptocurrencies increasingly gain recognition as an alternative asset class among institutional investors. While price volatility remains a concern, the broader crypto market has expanded rapidly, with global market capitalization rising to about $3 trillion over the past three years. Still, it remains unclear how strong demand for crypto-linked ETFs would be across Asian markets. The performance of spot Bitcoin ETFs in the region has so far lagged significantly behind the United States, raising questions about whether Japan would see comparable investor interest. Data from Sosvalue shows that U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs collectively hold about $115.88 billion in net assets, reflecting deep institutional and retail participation. In contrast, Hong Kong’s spot Bitcoin ETFs — approved in 2024 — have recorded far more modest uptake, with total net asset value standing at roughly $235.41 million at the time of reporting, alongside relatively thin trading volumes. This gap in performance raises questions about whether Japan would follow Hong Kong’s muted uptake or see stronger participation from domestic investors. Although some asset managers project that Japanese crypto ETFs could eventually reach 1 trillion yen ($6.4 billion) in assets, it remains unclear whether demand would be sufficient to support those expectations, especially in the initial phase after approval.

This preview of weekly data examines USOIL and XAUUSD, with economic data expected later this week as the primary market drivers of the near-term outlook. Highlights of the week: BoC & Fed interest rate decision, flash EU GDP, German inflation, US PPI  Wednesday Bank of Canada Interest rate decision at 14:45 GMT is expected to remain stable at 2.25%. A surprise hike in interest rates would support the loonie in the short term, while an unlikely rate cut might create some turmoil for the currency. The Fed interest rate decision at 19:00 GMT is broadly expected to remain steady at 3.75%, with the probability of a cut below 3%. Participants are closely focusing on what the central bankers will say in the subsequent press conference to get hints about the future direction of monetary policy.  Friday Flash European GDP growth at 10:00 AM GMT, where the quarterly figure is expected to remain stable at 0.3% and the annualised figure to decline from 1.4% to 1.2%. Even though this is flash data and not the final ones, if we see any significant deviation from the expected data, it might create volatility in the Euro pairs around the time of the release. Preliminary German inflation rate at 13:00 GMT. The market consensus for January is an increase of around 0.4%, bringing the figure to 2.2%. If this is broadly accurate, it could most likely influence European inflation data next week. S Producers Price Index (PPI) at 13:30 GMT. Market participants expect the figure to remain stable at 0.2% in December. If this is confirmed, it could indicate that inflation might slow in the next reading, as producers' costs usually roll down to consumers, pushing inflation figures to the upside; if they remain stable, it could hint that inflation might not increase in the near-term outlook. USOIL, daily Oil prices held onto recent gains as heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran kept investors on edge, maintaining a geopolitical risk premium in the market. U.S. crude prices were supported by fears of potential supply disruptions after President Trump said a U.S. naval strike group was heading toward the Middle East, while Iran warned that any attack would be treated as an act of war. At the same time, geopolitical support was partially offset by improving supply conditions, as Kazakhstan’s main export pipeline returned to full capacity following maintenance. U.S. crude production was also temporarily disrupted by severe winter weather, removing around 250,000 barrels per day, which added short-term support. Despite these factors, broader structural concerns about potential oversupply in 2026 continue to cap upside, keeping gains limited unless geopolitical tensions escalate further or producers announce meaningful output cuts. On the technical side, the crude oil price found sufficient support on the 100-day simple moving average early last week and has since corrected to the upside. This has pushed the Stochastic oscillator to the upper half of the “neutral” levels while the moving averages are still validating an overall bearish trend in the market. The Bollinger Bands are quite expanded indicating that there is volatility to support any sharp moves in the upcoming sessions. Overall, the $62 remains a strong resistance level for the price since it consists of the 61.8% of the weekly Fibonacci retracement level, the upper band of the Bollinger and is an area of price reaction in multiple occasions in the past 3-4 months. Gold-dollar, daily Gold hit a fresh all-time high above $5,100 an ounce, extending its rally as investors moved into safe-haven assets amid rising geopolitical tensions and global fiscal concerns. The surge has been driven by multiple geopolitical flashpoints, including Greenland, Venezuela, and the Middle East, reinforcing gold’s role as a hedge against uncertainty. Demand is coming from both institutional and retail investors, with banks highlighting strong central-bank buying and sustained private investment. Western ETF holdings have risen sharply since early 2025, while high-net-worth investors are increasingly using physical gold to hedge macro and policy risks. Central banks, particularly in emerging markets, continue to add gold at a pace far above historical averages. Major banks expect this demand to remain persistent, with forecasts pointing to further upside into 2026, with gold supported by “sticky” hedging against fiscal sustainability and broader macro risks rather than short-term political events. From a technical point of view, gold hit a new all-time high above $5,000 and there is massive volatility behind this move as it is shown from the expanded Bollinger Bands. Given this information it is safe to say that the trend is supported and there are no major signs of a reversal whatsoever. The moving averages are validating the bullish trend while the Stochastic oscillator is still in extreme overbought conditions but does not seem to negatively affect the price. For the time being the only support area might be found at $5,000 as it is considered a psychological support of the round number while on the other hand the next price target ,given that the price continues to trade upwards, might be the $5,100 and $5,200. Disclaimer: The opinions in this article are personal to the writer and do not reflect those of Exness or Finance Feeds.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, January 26th, 2026, FinanceWire Meeting Point for the Top Brokers and Active Participants of the Global Markets. Money Expo Abu Dhabi announces its 2nd edition, in the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. Designed as a high-impact marketplace for trading, investing, fintech, and financial networking and partnerships, the Expo will welcome thousands of market participants—from first-time traders to professional investors, IBs, Affiliates, decision makers, and institutional stakeholders—for two days of networking, Partnerships, and business growth. This year’s edition expands its scope and scale, with a strong focus on partnership-building and performance-driven collaboration across the Online trading ecosystem. Visitors will have direct access to Top global brokers, B2B companies, liquidity providers, and financial service brands—offering an unmatched opportunity to compare solutions, explore platforms, and engage directly with industry decision-makers. What Visitors Can Expect This Year Top Brokers & Online Trading platforms: Meeting leading brokers showcasing platforms, tools, and product innovations. Conference Sessions & Live Insights: Expert-led sessions covering market trends, trading strategies, risk management, and emerging opportunities. Technology & Innovation Showcase: New solutions in payments, trading infrastructure, automation, analytics, and digital on-boarding. High-Value Networking: Connecting with traders, investors, fintech founders, and executives in an action-oriented business environment. IB & Affiliates Partnership Opportunities Money Expo Abu Dhabi also places a strong spotlight on IBs (Introducing Brokers) and Affiliates, recognising their central role in market expansion and client acquisition. The event will provide dedicated opportunities for IBs and affiliate partners to connect with brokers, explore partnership models, understand conversion tools, and unlock new growth channels through structured networking and on-ground business matchmaking. As Abu Dhabi continues to strengthen its position as the largest meeting point for Global Market participants and service providers, Money Expo Abu Dhabi serves as a timely platform for industry collaborations, supporting innovation, transparency, and smarter participation of the industry. For participation, partnership, or media inquiries, users can contact: Sales@hqmena.com / Marketing@hqmena.com About Money Expo Abu Dhabi Money Expo Abu Dhabi is online trading exhibition and conference connecting traders, investors, brokers, fintech brands, and affiliates through education, networking, and business development opportunities in the UAE capital. Contact Niyaz Mohamed HQMENA Sales@hqmena.com

The SocialFi sector, once heralded as the definitive bridge between Web2 social interactions and Web3 ownership, has entered a period of severe structural contraction as of January 2026. Data from the first three weeks of the year indicates that the vast majority of first-generation "creator coin" platforms have either been abandoned by their developer teams or acquired by larger infrastructure conglomerates seeking to salvage underlying identity protocols. This decline follows a turbulent 2025 where speculative "bot farming" and predatory flipping by short-term traders eroded the genuine community engagement necessary for platform survival. By early 2026, tokens associated with formerly prominent projects like Friend.tech, DESO, and RLY have seen their market valuations plummet by over ninety percent from their all-time highs. This "monetization of social essence" has proved to be a double-edged sword, as the financialization of human relationships ultimately distorted the very culture these platforms sought to decentralize, leading to a mass exodus of users once the immediate financial incentives evaporated. From Speculative Frenzy to Practical Infrastructure Integration and Identity Layers As the "hype-driven" social apps of the previous cycle fade into obsolescence, the market is witnessing a tactical shift toward integrating SocialFi elements into broader, more resilient decentralized infrastructure. The platforms that have survived the consolidation are those that moved away from pure financial speculation toward providing sovereign identity and encrypted messaging layers that underpin other applications. For instance, while individual "creator keys" have largely lost their appeal, the decentralized social graphs and reputation scores developed by these projects are being acquired by major wallet providers and decentralized finance (DeFi) hubs to enhance user verification and trust. This transition represents the "industrialization" of social data, where the focus has moved from "get-rich-quick" social trading to the creation of a persistent, portable digital identity that users can carry across the entire on-chain economy. Analysts suggest that the future of the sector lies not in standalone social apps, but in these invisible middleware layers that allow for seamless, permissionless interaction within the broader digital ecosystem. The Vitalik Buterin Critique and the Search for Sustainable Social Utility in Web3 The current state of the SocialFi market reflects the prescient warnings issued by Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin throughout late 2024 and 2025 regarding the "financialization of everything." Buterin argued that treating social interactions as speculative assets would inherently lead to a boom-and-bust cycle that destroys the long-term value of digital communities. As the market corrects in 2026, new projects are emerging with a focus on "Social Essence"—prioritizing deep content sharing and relationship building over reputation pumping and tokenized access. These second-generation platforms are experimenting with sustainable revenue models, such as direct micro-subscriptions and decentralized governance, that do not rely on the continuous issuance of new tokens. By separating the financial layer from the social layer, these innovators hope to build a more resilient Web3 social fabric that can withstand the pressures of market volatility. While the initial "SocialFi" gold rush may have ended in widespread abandonment, the lessons learned from this period of consolidation are providing the blueprint for a more mature and genuinely useful decentralized social future.

The cryptocurrency market entered a period of intense downward pressure on January 25, 2026, as Bitcoin broke below the critical ninety-thousand-dollar psychological support level. This move has triggered a cascading effect across the broader digital asset ecosystem, with the total market capitalization shrinking by over two percent in a single twenty-four-hour window. Analysts at major institutional desks note that this decline is not merely a technical retracement but a response to a complex "Sell America" trade that is currently dominating the global financial landscape. As investors pivot toward safe-haven assets like gold and silver, the once-buoyant crypto sector is struggling to maintain its bullish momentum, particularly as leveraged long positions worth hundreds of millions of dollars face forced liquidations. This widespread risk aversion is being fueled by a combination of domestic political uncertainty in the United States and a sudden surge in Japanese government bond yields, which has tightened global financial conditions and drained the liquidity necessary for speculative asset growth. Geopolitical Friction and the Impact of International Policy Uncertainty A primary driver of the current market slaughter is the escalating geopolitical tension between the United States and Europe, specifically regarding strategic disputes over Greenland and the broader implications of President Trump’s recent tariff threats. These diplomatic rifts have created a climate of policy uncertainty that is rattling investors across all asset classes, leading many to reduce their exposure to high-beta instruments like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Furthermore, the market is grappling with the exhaustion of buying power from "Digital Asset Treasury" companies, which had been the marginal buyers throughout the previous year. As these major players selectively trim their holdings to preserve capital in a more restrictive environment, the lack of fresh institutional inflows has left the market vulnerable to sharp, news-driven sell-offs. The resulting technical deterioration, including a break below the fifty-week moving average for many top-tier coins, suggests that the market may be entering a necessary "digestion" phase after nearly three years of uninterrupted expansion. Technical Support Zones and the Search for a Market Bottom in Q1 As the price action turns increasingly defensive, traders are now closely monitoring the eighty-seven-thousand-dollar support zone as the final line of defense against a deeper correction toward the seventy-four-thousand-dollar range. The Crypto Fear and Greed Index has plummeted into "Extreme Fear" territory, reaching levels not seen since the acute stress periods of late 2025. While this level of sentiment often signals that a market is oversold, the persistence of macroeconomic headwinds suggests that a V-shaped recovery may be difficult to achieve in the immediate term. Derivatives data indicates that the twenty-five-delta skew has flipped significantly bearish, meaning that sophisticated participants are now paying a premium for downside protection through the middle of the year. For long-term holders, this period represents a test of conviction, as the market transitions from a speculative frenzy into a more fragmented environment where assets increasingly move based on individual fundamentals rather than homogeneous hype. Until the current wave of geopolitical and fiscal uncertainty stabilizes, the digital asset class is expected to remain under significant pressure, awaiting a clear catalyst to ignite the next cycle of accumulation.