IC Markets has appointed industry veteran Petros Kalaitzis as General Manager of IC Funded, its proprietary trading division, marking a senior leadership move that underscores the broker’s intent to double down on disciplined growth, risk governance, and long-term sustainability in prop trading. Based in Limassol, Cyprus, Kalaitzis steps into the role following more than a decade in senior positions across prop trading firms, regulated brokerages, and trading technology providers. His appointment comes at a time when the global prop trading industry is recalibrating its priorities amid heightened scrutiny, tighter capital controls, and a growing emphasis on behavioural consistency over headline-grabbing performance. Kalaitzis formally assumed the position in January 2026, transitioning from his most recent executive roles at NextTrade and FunderPro. At IC Funded, he will be responsible for overseeing strategy, risk frameworks, trader evaluation models, and operational scalability, aligning the prop business more closely with IC Markets’ institutional standards. In an exclusive comment to FinanceFeeds, Kalaitzis said the move comes at an early but pivotal stage, describing his first days at IC Funded as “very new” but underpinned by strong conviction in the business. He highlighted the strategic importance of IC Funded being “part of and backed up by IC Markets, which is a top broker on the planet,” adding that he is “very excited” and “grateful” to be taking on the role. Kalaitzis said his initial focus will be on reassessing the prop firm’s foundations, noting that “in the beginning [we’re going to focus] on re-evaluating everything we have and making IC Funded as successful as IC Markets in terms of popularity.” He also pointed to a broader structural shift in the sector, stating that “the prop trading industry has changed dramatically in the last few years,” with major brokers increasingly viewing prop trading “as an additional arm” of their core business. Looking ahead, he suggested the trend is far from over, adding that “we will see moves from other companies that will be focusing a little bit more on the prop side in 2026.” What Kalaitzis Brings to IC Funded [caption id="attachment_186458" align="alignleft" width="300"] Petros Kalaitzis, General Manager of IC Funded[/caption] Kalaitzis arrives at IC Funded with a career that spans the full lifecycle of trading businesses, from front-office dealing and liquidity management to executive leadership and strategic planning. His experience includes senior roles at The Trading Pit, Tools for Brokers, NAGA, Tickmill, Saxo Bank, eToro, and CIF, giving him a rare combination of prop trading insight and regulated brokerage discipline. Immediately prior to joining IC Funded, Kalaitzis served as Executive Director at NextTrade and as Deputy CEO and Chief Strategy Officer at FunderPro. In those roles, he was closely involved in shaping growth strategy, refining risk and evaluation frameworks, and building operational structures designed to scale without compromising control. Earlier, as Managing Director at Tools for Brokers, he worked at the intersection of technology, brokerage infrastructure, and institutional client needs. This breadth of experience is particularly relevant as prop firms mature. Once driven largely by aggressive trader acquisition and marketing, the sector is now under pressure to demonstrate robustness, transparency, and sustainability. Kalaitzis’ background in regulated environments and exchange-traded derivatives positions him to navigate that transition. Takeaway Kalaitzis’ appointment signals a shift toward institutional-grade leadership in prop trading, where operational depth and risk governance are becoming competitive advantages rather than optional extras. A Risk-First Philosophy Shaped by Experience In recent months, Kalaitzis has become an increasingly visible voice in the prop trading community, sharing succinct observations on risk management, discipline, and trader behaviour. His public commentary offers a clear window into the philosophy he is likely to bring to IC Funded. “Prop firms aren’t entertainment businesses. They are risk businesses,” Kalaitzis wrote in one recent post. In another, he argued that “Prop firms don’t punish losing days. They punish undisciplined days,” drawing a clear distinction between statistical loss and behavioural failure. These statements reflect a consistent view: that profitability without control is noise, not signal. He has also repeatedly stressed the importance of predictability over short-term gains. “Prop firms don’t want perfect traders. They want predictable ones,” he noted, adding that “Predictability shows up in risk metrics, not screenshots.” In an industry where social media often amplifies extreme wins, Kalaitzis’ emphasis on consistency stands in contrast to more promotional narratives. Takeaway A risk-first philosophy focused on predictability and discipline aligns closely with where the prop trading industry is heading as firms seek longevity over marketing-driven growth. Why the Appointment Matters for the Prop Trading Industry The timing of Kalaitzis’ move is significant. Prop trading firms globally are facing increased regulatory attention, rising operational costs, and growing trader scepticism following a wave of firm closures and rule changes. Against that backdrop, leadership appointments are being scrutinised as signals of strategic direction. Kalaitzis has consistently framed risk management as a filtering mechanism rather than a constraint. “Risk management doesn’t reduce opportunity. It filters bad decisions,” he wrote in a recent post. Elsewhere, he warned that “Aggression scales poorly. Discipline scales reliably,” a view that mirrors broader institutional thinking in both prime brokerage and asset management. His outlook also reflects a longer-term view of capital allocation. “Capital preservation interest is rising. Longevity is becoming the edge,” Kalaitzis observed, before posing a pointed question to traders: “Are you trading for survival or stimulation?” For prop firms like IC Funded, the implication is clear: sustainable capital deployment depends on trader behaviour that can withstand drawdowns, volatility, and stress. Takeaway As prop trading matures, leadership with institutional risk credentials is becoming critical to maintaining credibility with traders, partners, and regulators alike. Kalaitzis has also highlighted the behavioural roots of many failed funded accounts. “Most traders don’t blow accounts in one trade. They do it through repeated small risk violations,” he wrote, adding that “Discipline compounds. So does indiscipline.” This behavioural lens is likely to influence how IC Funded refines its evaluation criteria and ongoing risk controls. Another recurring theme in his commentary is emotional control. “If position size changes with mood, risk management doesn’t exist,” he stated, emphasising that emotion inevitably “shows up in data.” For prop firms, translating such insights into measurable metrics is increasingly seen as the next frontier in trader assessment. Under Kalaitzis’ leadership, IC Funded is expected to place greater emphasis on data-driven monitoring of trader behaviour, drawdown management, and consistency metrics, moving further away from simplistic profit targets. Takeaway Behavioural consistency, not headline P&L, is becoming the core currency of funded trading, reshaping how firms design evaluations and allocate capital. For IC Markets, the appointment also reinforces its broader positioning as a broker that blends retail accessibility with institutional-grade standards. By installing a General Manager with deep operational and risk experience at IC Funded, the group is signalling that its prop trading arm is intended to be a long-term strategic pillar rather than a short-cycle growth experiment. As the prop trading landscape continues to evolve, Kalaitzis’ leadership will be closely watched by traders and competitors alike. His emphasis on control over confidence, discipline over aggression, and longevity over excitement reflects a philosophy increasingly shared by firms aiming to survive the sector’s next phase. In his own words, “Profit without control is noise.” At IC Funded, the challenge now will be turning that principle into scalable practice.  

SAN JOSE, Republic of Costa Rica, January 23rd, 2026, FinanceWire Today, Pocket Broker announced the launch of Trading Race, an adrenaline-fueled trading competition inspired by the high-octane world of Formula 1 racing. Traders worldwide are invited to compete across three distinct racing tiers, with the chance to win valuable prizes while experiencing the thrill of the track through strategic trading. Three Laps, Three Levels of Competition Trading Race offers three competitive tiers designed to match different trading styles and ambitions: Small Lap – upon achieving a turnover equal to 9 times the new deposit Prize: 5 racers will each claim 5 green gems (can be spent in the Pocket Broker shop, to buy up to +100% bonuses on deposits, +$5 bonuses to balance, cashback, or trading boosters, among other things) Medium Lap –if a turnover equal to 18 times the deposit is reached Prize: 5 racers will each earn 3 x Ultrade $10 Large Circuit – a turnover of 27 times the deposit Prize: 5 racers will each win 3 × Ultrade $100 The Green Light is On! The competition combines the strategic elements of trading with the competitive spirit of motorsport, creating an engaging experience. Every decision counts, and every position on the leaderboard matters. Participation Using RACE99 Participants can supercharge their trading experience with the exclusive promo code RACE99, unlocking a remarkable 99% bonus to fuel their competitive edge from the starting grid. Participation Process Traders can join Trading Race by registering on the Pocket Broker platform, selecting their preferred lap (small, medium, or large), and applying promo code RACE99 to activate their +99% bonus. The competition is open to both new and existing Pocket Broker users. For more information about this Trading Race, users can visit https://pocket-broker.com/ or download the trading app. About Pocket Broker Pocket Broker is an online trading platform, mainly accessible through the app which has 10+ million downloads. The app provides engaging trading experiences for users worldwide, allowing users to trade all markets, including currencies, stocks, indices, cryptos, and precious metals. The platform combines innovative features like AI trading with user-friendly design and easy execution, which allows it to cater towards traders of all experience levels. X.com: https://x.com/pocketbrokergl Website: https://pocket-broker.com Disclaimer: Any trading carries significant risk. Do your own research before committing any real funds. Contact Anna Keller Pocket Broker support@pocket-broker.com

The Davos Forum this year has stood out not only because of discussions around Greenland and Donald Trump’s Peace Council initiative, but also due to the presence of Elon Musk, a long-time critic of the event. The Tesla CEO drew significant attention with ambitious remarks about the company’s Optimus humanoid robots. Musk outlined a bold vision: → Tesla aims to start commercial sales of Optimus robots by the end of 2027, with a projected price range of $20,000–$30,000, placing them below the cost of a typical car. → Over time, Optimus robots could represent as much as 80% of Tesla’s overall valuation, while the broader robotics market — potentially larger than the global human population — could add trillions of dollars in value. These statements fuelled strong bullish sentiment, driving TSLA shares up by more than 4% in the previous session. TSLA: Technical Perspective In our analysis dated 30 December, we: → reaffirmed the validity of an ascending price channel that has been in place since mid-2025; → identified early signs of weakening momentum; → projected a possible decline towards the channel’s lower boundary. That scenario materialised on 8 January, when the price touched the lower edge of the channel. Subsequent price action now points to a shift in momentum back in favour of buyers: → a bullish engulfing formation has emerged just below the channel floor; → the most recent session opened with a bullish gap and finished close to the daily high; → buying volume has been increasing on upward moves, signalling strengthening demand. Taken together, these factors suggest that TSLA may re-enter the main ascending channel and attempt a renewed advance towards the psychological $500 level. However, confirmation of this move will largely hinge on the outcome of Tesla’s quarterly earnings report, due on 28 January. FXOpen offers spreads from 0.0 pips and commissions from $1.50 per lot (additional fees may apply). Enjoy trading on MT4, MT5, TickTrader or TradingView trading platforms! The FXOpen App is a dedicated mobile application designed to give traders full control of their accounts anytime, anywhere. This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.

Global payments infrastructure platform Mercuryo has partnered with Visa to expand its crypto-to-fiat off-ramping capabilities, enabling near real-time conversion of digital assets into local currencies via Visa Direct. The partnership, announced on January 22, allows Mercuryo to extend coverage of Visa Direct, Visa’s real-time payments platform, giving eligible users the ability to off-ramp digital token holdings directly to Visa credit or debit cards at low cost. The move highlights growing efforts across the payments and Web3 sectors to reduce friction between digital assets and traditional financial systems, as platforms compete to offer faster, simpler access to fiat liquidity. Expanding Global Crypto-to-Fiat Access Under the agreement, Mercuryo will integrate Visa Direct more deeply across its global infrastructure, enhancing its off-ramp services for users converting crypto into fiat currencies. Visa Direct enables real-time money movement across brokerage, crypto, and digital bank accounts. By leveraging this infrastructure, Mercuryo said users can access funds in their local fiat currencies almost instantly, rather than navigating traditional withdrawal delays. The expanded coverage allows eligible Mercuryo users to convert digital tokens directly onto Visa cards, which can be used at more than 150 million Visa-accepting merchant locations worldwide. Mercuryo said the partnership is designed to simplify a process that has historically involved multiple steps, intermediaries, and settlement delays. Takeaway Real-time off-ramping remains a critical bottleneck in crypto adoption, and Mercuryo is positioning Visa Direct as a solution to that friction. Integrating With Wallets, Exchanges and Payment Networks The partnership also enables Visa Direct to operate across Mercuryo’s existing network of non-custodial wallets, exchanges, and payment platforms. According to Mercuryo, this integration allows millions of users to access crypto-to-fiat conversion tools without leaving the platforms they already trust. Rather than requiring users to transfer assets between multiple services, the Visa Direct integration embeds off-ramping directly into existing Web3 and fintech workflows. This approach aligns with a broader industry trend toward invisible infrastructure, where payments and conversions occur in the background rather than through manual, user-driven processes. Takeaway Embedding off-ramps directly into wallets and exchanges reduces user drop-off and strengthens platform stickiness. Supporting Cross-Border Payments and Web3 Adoption Mercuryo said that by leveraging Visa Direct’s global reach, the partnership supports faster and more efficient cross-border payments, a key use case for both crypto and digital finance platforms. Traditional cross-border money movement and digital asset cash-outs often involve extended processing times and higher costs. Mercuryo said the Visa integration significantly reduces these delays. The company framed the move as another step toward mass Web3 adoption, particularly by making it easier for users to access fiat liquidity when needed. As regulatory clarity improves in several jurisdictions, infrastructure providers are increasingly focused on building compliant, scalable bridges between on-chain assets and traditional payment rails. Takeaway Efficient off-ramps are becoming as important as on-ramps in driving everyday crypto usage. Executive Commentary Highlights User Experience Focus Petr Kozyakov, Co-Founder and CEO of Mercuryo, said the partnership enhances the platform’s ability to deliver fast and low-cost conversions from digital assets to fiat. “This partnership with Visa will further enhance Mercuryo's ability to deliver a fast, low-cost user experience, making it easier to convert digital token balances into fiat, which can be spent at 150 million global Visa-accepting merchant locations,” Kozyakov said. He added that the collaboration addresses long-standing inefficiencies in cross-border payments and crypto cash-outs. “Traditionally, moving money across borders or cashing out from digital assets has involved complex, time-consuming processes,” Kozyakov said. “Through this collaboration such delays are minimised, enabling users to enjoy a much more seamless off-ramping experience.” Visa also framed the partnership as a bridge between crypto-native platforms and traditional finance. Anastasia Serikova, Head of Visa Direct, Europe, said: “By leveraging Visa Direct’s capabilities, Mercuryo is not only making converting to fiat faster, simpler, and more accessible than ever—it’s building bridges between the crypto space and the traditional financial system.” “This integration empowers users to seamlessly convert digital assets into fiat in near real time, creating a more connected and convenient payment experience,” Serikova added. Takeaway Both firms are emphasising speed, simplicity, and interoperability as core drivers of crypto–fiat convergence. Mercuryo’s Broader Web3 Infrastructure Strategy Mercuryo positions itself as a payments infrastructure provider focused on efficient capital flow within the Web3 and DeFi ecosystems. The company offers a range of on- and off-ramping solutions, combining multiple payment methods into a single interface designed to lower barriers for new users entering the digital asset space. Mercuryo said its non-custodial integrations and seamless on-chain connectivity are aimed at simplifying interactions that have traditionally required technical expertise. As competition intensifies among Web3 infrastructure providers, user experience and speed of settlement are increasingly viewed as key differentiators. Takeaway Infrastructure players like Mercuryo are competing on usability, not just access to liquidity. Visa Deepens Its Role in Digital Asset Payments For Visa, the partnership reinforces its strategy of supporting digital asset use cases through regulated, real-time payment infrastructure. Visa Direct has increasingly been positioned as a flexible rail for moving money across traditional and digital financial systems, including brokerage, crypto, and fintech platforms. By working with crypto infrastructure providers such as Mercuryo, Visa continues to expand its relevance in a payments landscape that increasingly spans both on-chain and off-chain environments. The collaboration reflects how established payment networks are choosing integration over competition when it comes to digital assets. Takeaway Visa’s strategy centres on becoming the connective tissue between traditional payments and digital assets. Closing the Gap Between Crypto and Fiat The Mercuryo–Visa partnership underscores a broader industry shift toward making crypto usable in everyday financial contexts. As on-chain activity grows, the ability to quickly and reliably convert digital assets into spendable fiat is becoming a baseline expectation rather than a premium feature. With real-time off-ramping via Visa Direct, Mercuryo is positioning itself to capture demand from users who want the benefits of digital assets without sacrificing liquidity or convenience. Whether such integrations accelerate mainstream adoption will depend on regulatory developments and user trust, but the direction of travel toward seamless crypto–fiat interoperability is becoming increasingly clear. Takeaway Faster off-ramps may prove decisive in turning crypto from an investment asset into a practical payment tool.

VT Markets has published its 2026 Global Market Outlook, setting out a cautiously optimistic view of the year ahead as global growth steadies and inflation pressures continue to normalise. The report, titled “Steady Growth, Balanced Inflation: Navigating a Regime of Structural Opportunity,” provides a forward-looking, multi-asset assessment of trends expected to shape markets in 2026. It covers equities, foreign exchange, crypto assets, commodities, and emerging markets, with a focus on longer-term positioning rather than short-term volatility. According to VT Markets, the global economy is entering a new phase defined less by crisis management and more by structural adjustment, creating a different risk-reward environment for investors and traders across asset classes. A Shift From Volatility to Structural Opportunity The outlook frames 2026 as a transition year in which markets move beyond the sharp inflation shocks and aggressive monetary tightening of recent cycles. As inflation becomes more balanced and growth stabilises, VT Markets argues that investors may be able to shift focus toward strategic allocation and selective opportunity. Developed by VT Markets’ analyst team, the report examines how this evolving macro backdrop could influence sector leadership, cross-asset correlations, and trading strategies. Rather than offering point forecasts, the analysis is built around scenario planning and risk awareness. VT Markets said this approach is designed to help market participants navigate a regime where returns may be steadier but more dependent on discipline, selectivity, and structural themes. Takeaway VT Markets is positioning 2026 as a year for strategic positioning rather than reactive trading, as macro volatility gives way to more balanced conditions. Equities Outlook Emphasises Selectivity The equities section of the report assesses global and U.S. stock markets against the backdrop of moderating economic growth and easing inflationary pressure. Authored by Ross Maxwell, Global Strategy Operations Lead, the analysis covers U.S. economic performance, key macro drivers, sector-level opportunities and risks, as well as index technicals and scenario-based outlooks. The report suggests that equity market leadership may broaden in 2026, reducing reliance on a narrow group of dominant stocks. This shift, however, is expected to increase the importance of stock and sector selection rather than broad-based index exposure. VT Markets highlights that while growth is expected to be steadier, valuations and earnings dispersion could play a larger role in driving returns, particularly in developed markets. Takeaway Equity opportunities in 2026 may hinge more on selective positioning as market leadership widens and index-level momentum moderates. Forex Markets Shaped by Policy Divergence The foreign exchange outlook focuses on how global macroeconomic conditions and monetary policy paths may influence currency markets in 2026. Written by Justin Khoo, Senior Market Analyst, the FX section examines central bank divergence, capital flows, and macro scenarios as key drivers for currency performance. With inflation pressures easing at different speeds across regions, VT Markets expects policy divergence to remain a defining theme, creating opportunities and risks across major and emerging market currency pairs. The report also outlines practical considerations for traders, highlighting how shifts in yield differentials and global risk sentiment could shape FX volatility throughout the year. Takeaway Currency markets in 2026 are likely to be driven by relative policy paths rather than broad dollar trends. Emerging and Alternative Assets Gain Attention The outlook also examines emerging and alternative asset classes, reflecting growing institutional interest and evolving market structures. This section, analysed by Eduardo Ramos, Senior Market Analyst, evaluates how capital allocation trends and institutional participation could reshape opportunities in emerging markets and non-traditional assets. VT Markets notes that while emerging and alternative assets can offer diversification and growth potential, they remain sensitive to global liquidity conditions and shifts in investor risk appetite. The report suggests that structural engagement by institutions could help stabilise some segments of these markets, but cautions that volatility remains a key consideration. Takeaway Institutional participation is reshaping emerging and alternative assets, but selectivity and risk management remain critical. Commodities Enter a New Regime VT Markets’ commodities outlook explores what it describes as a “new commodity regime,” shaped by structural demand drivers and evolving supply dynamics. Authored by Nayel Al-Jawabra, Senior Market Analyst, the analysis focuses on long-term themes rather than short-term price fluctuations. The report highlights how energy transition, infrastructure investment, and geopolitical considerations could influence commodity markets in 2026, with implications for both portfolio construction and trading strategies. VT Markets suggests that commodities may play a renewed role in diversification, particularly as investors reassess inflation hedging and real asset exposure in a more stable macro environment. Takeaway Structural demand and supply shifts are redefining commodities’ role in portfolios beyond short-term inflation hedging. China-Specific Insights Highlight Regional Complexity The report includes a dedicated China-focused edition, authored by Market Analyst Ray Yang, reflecting China’s importance to global growth and financial markets. This section examines China’s economic performance, policy direction, structural challenges, and potential investment opportunities in 2026. VT Markets notes that China’s trajectory remains a key variable for global markets, influencing commodities, emerging markets, and broader risk sentiment. The China analysis underscores the need for regional nuance, particularly as policy responses and structural reforms continue to evolve. Takeaway China remains a critical swing factor for global markets, requiring region-specific analysis rather than broad assumptions. Preparing for 2026 Beyond Short-Term Forecasts Rather than presenting a single base-case forecast, the VT Markets 2026 Global Market Outlook emphasises scenario analysis and preparedness across asset classes and regions. The firm said this approach is intended to help traders and investors adapt to a market environment where returns may be steadier but less forgiving of poor risk management. As global growth stabilises and inflation becomes more balanced, VT Markets argues that disciplined strategy, diversification, and structural awareness will be key differentiators. The full report is now available for download, offering detailed analysis and market perspectives designed to support decision-making throughout 2026. Takeaway VT Markets’ outlook frames 2026 as a year where preparation and structure matter more than short-term market timing.

The long-simmering tension between President Donald Trump and the American banking establishment reached a boiling point on January 22, 2026, as the President filed a massive five billion dollar lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase and its CEO, Jamie Dimon. Filed in the Miami-Dade County state court, the complaint accuses the nation’s largest bank of trade libel, breach of the implied covenant of good faith, and violations of Florida's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. The President alleges that the bank engaged in "political debanking" by terminating his personal and business accounts in early 2021 following the January 6 Capitol protest. According to the filing, the bank provided no specific reason for the closures at the time, but the administration now claims to have evidence that the decision was a discriminatory act of ideological gatekeeping rather than a regulatory necessity. This legal action marks an unprecedented confrontation between a sitting U.S. President and a primary pillar of the global financial system, setting the stage for a high-stakes discovery process into the internal communications of Wall Street executives. Allegations of Ideological Discrimination and the Battle Over Financial Access The lawsuit centers on the claim that JPMorgan Chase improperly shuttered the accounts of the Trump Organization and its various affiliates, an act the President describes as a "troubling saga" of corporate overreach. In social media posts leading up to the filing, Trump characterized the bank’s actions as part of a broader effort by major financial institutions to silence political dissent and punish individuals based on their beliefs. The complaint further alleges that Jamie Dimon personally assured the President that the account closures would be addressed but ultimately failed to follow through, leading to significant reputational and financial harm. By seeking five billion dollars in damages, the Trump legal team is attempting to establish a costly precedent that would deter other financial institutions from "weaponizing" their services against political figures. JPMorgan Chase has responded by calling the suit "without merit," stating that they do not close accounts for political or religious reasons but only when a client creates an unacceptable level of legal or regulatory risk for the institution. The Federal Reserve Conflict and the Broader Push Against the Banking Elite This legal escalation is inextricably linked to a series of recent public clashes between the White House and Jamie Dimon regarding the independence of the Federal Reserve. Tensions flared last week when Dimon warned that the President's frequent criticism of Fed Chair Jerome Powell risked undermining central bank independence and fueling inflation. Trump has countered by calling Powell a "bad Fed person" and insisting that interest rates should be significantly lower to stimulate domestic growth. The lawsuit also follows the President’s recent denial of a Wall Street Journal report claiming he had offered Dimon the position of Federal Reserve chair, an idea he dismissed as "fake news." As the administration pushes for new caps on credit card interest rates—a move JPMorgan’s CFO Jeremy Barnum recently described as "very bad for the economy"—the lawsuit serves as a primary tool in the President's broader campaign to reshape the power dynamics between Washington and the banking elite. With both sides dug in for a protracted legal fight, the outcome will likely define the limits of corporate discretion in the age of the "internet financial system."

The landscape of decentralized infrastructure reached a historic turning point on January 22, 2026, as Spacecoin officially announced a strategic partnership with World Liberty Financial (WLFI). This collaboration, which bridges the gap between orbital technology and digital finance, is designed to integrate the WLFI ecosystem directly into Spacecoin’s decentralized satellite internet protocol. Under the terms of the agreement, WLFI will utilize its newly launched "USD1" stablecoin to facilitate all payment and settlement services for users connecting to the internet via the Spacecoin network. This move allows individuals in remote or underserved regions to access high-speed internet through a self-sovereign financial layer, effectively bypassing traditional banking gatekeepers. The partnership also includes a significant token swap between the two entities, intended to align their long-term economic incentives and provide the liquidity necessary to scale satellite-based financial services on a global scale. Integrating the USD1 Stablecoin for Borderless Connectivity Payments The technical integration of WLFI’s USD1 stablecoin into the Spacecoin network represents a massive shift toward "always-on" global connectivity. By leveraging the USD1 digital dollar, Spacecoin users can now pay for internet bandwidth in real-time using a secure, blockchain-native asset that maintains a one-to-one peg with the U.S. dollar. This is particularly impactful for the "off-grid" economy, where local fiat currencies may be unstable or inaccessible. The WLFI team, which includes prominent figures such as Eric and Donald Trump Jr., has emphasized that this partnership is a core pillar of their "Hybrid Finance" mission. By providing the financial "plumbing" for Spacecoin’s satellite constellation, WLFI is positioning itself as more than just a DeFi protocol; it is becoming a foundational utility for the digital infrastructure of the future. The use of the USD1 stablecoin ensures that as Spacecoin expands its orbital footprint, its users will have a reliable, transparent, and low-cost method to manage their connectivity costs without relying on legacy credit card networks or international wire transfers. Strategic Synergy and the Vision for a Decentralized Global Infrastructure Beyond the immediate payment utility, the Spacecoin and WLFI tie-up signals a broader movement toward the "decentralized physical infrastructure" or DePIN sector. The collaboration aims to create a closed-loop ecosystem where satellite hardware and decentralized finance work in tandem to promote global economic freedom. Spacecoin’s decentralized model for internet access—which rewards node operators with SPACE tokens—complements WLFI’s goal of democratizing access to high-yield financial tools. As both projects prepare for a series of high-profile announcements at the upcoming World Liberty Forum in Mar-a-Lago, the market is closely watching how this synergy will impact the adoption of their respective native tokens. By combining the physical reach of a satellite network with the financial agility of a modern DeFi protocol, Spacecoin and WLFI are building a "super-infrastructure" that challenges both traditional telecommunications giants and centralized banking institutions. As the first batch of integrated satellite-DeFi nodes prepares for deployment later this quarter, the partnership stands as a blueprint for how blockchain technology can solve real-world connectivity and financial inclusion challenges in the year 2026 and beyond.

What Drove the Spike in Fraud Losses? Belgian consumers lost more than €23 million to investment fraud and unlawful financial offers in the second half of 2025, according to data published by the country’s Financial Services and Markets Authority. The losses were driven mainly by scams linked to fake cryptocurrency trading platforms and a rapidly expanding wave of fraudulent “exclusive investment tips” circulated through WhatsApp groups. Between July and December 2025, the regulator received 1,622 consumer reports related to unlawful financial offers. The figures point to a sharp increase not only in reported cases but also in the financial impact per victim, suggesting more targeted and organized fraud campaigns. Fraudulent trading platforms accounted for the largest share of losses. Victims reported more than €10.5 million in losses tied to platforms that often presented themselves as legitimate crypto investment services while operating without authorization. According to the regulator, these schemes rely heavily on aggressive online advertising to persuade users to transfer funds quickly. Investor Takeaway Rising loss figures point to more concentrated and higher-value fraud attempts, rather than a simple increase in low-level scams. How WhatsApp Stock Tip Scams Work A newer fraud model linked to so-called exclusive stock market tips distributed via WhatsApp caused nearly as much damage as crypto-related schemes. Losses from these scams exceeded €9.5 million during the same six-month period, making them one of the fastest-growing sources of consumer harm tracked by the regulator. These schemes typically begin with advertisements on social media platforms such as Facebook or Instagram. The ads invite users to join private WhatsApp groups that promise privileged market insights or unusually high returns. To appear credible, the promotions often misuse the names, logos, or branding of well-known banks, financial institutions, or media organizations. Once inside the groups, participants are exposed to messages from individuals posing as economists, financial analysts, or senior executives at investment firms. The regulator said the identities used in these profiles are frequently stolen or entirely fabricated. Group members may then be encouraged to take part in fake lotteries designed to collect personal data, urged to buy specific US-listed shares as part of coordinated price manipulation efforts, or prompted to download fraudulent applications claiming to offer crypto trading services. In many cases, the goal is to move victims toward transferring funds or sharing sensitive information that can be exploited later. Who Is Being Targeted and How Much Is Lost? According to the regulator, the typical victim profile for WhatsApp-based stock tip scams is Dutch-speaking men aged between 50 and 69. This demographic detail points to campaigns tailored toward individuals with accumulated savings and a higher willingness to invest larger sums. Average reported losses per victim stood at roughly €73,000, with several cases involving losses running into the hundreds of thousands of euros. In total, the regulator received 263 reports related specifically to WhatsApp stock tip scams in the second half of 2025. About 60% of those reports came from consumers who had already transferred money to fraudsters by the time they contacted authorities. Beyond crypto and WhatsApp-based schemes, the regulator also recorded notable losses linked to other forms of financial deception. Fake credit offers, recovery room scams, and fraudulent portfolio management services all contributed to the overall damage. Recovery room scams, in which fraudsters claim they can retrieve funds previously lost to other scams in exchange for a fee, resulted in losses of nearly €860,000. Fraudulent alternative investment schemes accounted for more than €700,000 in reported losses during the same period. Investor Takeaway High average losses suggest that scams are increasingly aimed at experienced investors rather than first-time participants. Why Reports Keep Rising The Financial Services and Markets Authority said the overall number of consumer reports linked to unlawful financial activity continues to climb. In 2025 as a whole, it received 2,911 reports, an 11% increase compared with 2024. Since 2017, reports have grown at an average pace of nearly 20% per year. Monthly data shows clear clustering around specific periods. Autumn 2025 recorded notable spikes, with October registering the highest number of reports for the year. The regulator linked this pattern to coordinated advertising campaigns and periods of heightened market volatility, when fraud messages are more likely to resonate with anxious or opportunistic investors. As part of its response, the regulator issued warnings in 2025 against 240 fraudulent entities and 316 websites. More than 65% of those warnings related to fraudulent trading platforms, underlining their central role in consumer losses. The authority urged consumers to treat unsolicited investment offers with caution, especially those promoted through social media or private messaging apps, and to verify whether firms are authorized before transferring funds. It also said it would continue monitoring emerging fraud patterns and working with domestic and international partners to limit the spread of cross-border scams that operate across multiple platforms and jurisdictions.

What Happened in BitGo’s First Day of Trading? Crypto custodian BitGo Holdings delivered a volatile first session as a public company, with shares surging shortly after the open before sliding back toward the initial public offering price by the close. The stock briefly traded as much as 36% above its offer level before most of those gains faded. BitGo’s Class A shares began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker BTGO following an $18-per-share IPO. The offering raised about $212.8 million and implied a valuation of more than $2 billion. Early demand pushed the stock to an intraday high of $24.50, but selling pressure built through the afternoon. By the end of regular trading, BTGO closed at $18.49, roughly 2.7% above the offer price. After-hours trading showed the shares hovering near $18.35, leaving the stock only marginally higher after a session marked by sharp swings rather than sustained momentum. Investor Takeaway The first-day reversal suggests early enthusiasm was met by profit-taking rather than longer-term conviction, a pattern investors often watch closely in newly listed crypto infrastructure firms. How Should Investors Read the Early Price Action? First-day trading in IPOs often reflects short-term positioning rather than a settled view on valuation. In BitGo’s case, the quick rise above $24 followed by a retreat toward $18 points to a market still testing where demand and supply balance. For some investors, the pullback may be read as caution around pricing after a strong initial bid. For others, the ability of the stock to remain near its offer price despite intraday volatility may be seen as a sign that the IPO found a workable clearing level rather than breaking down outright. Crypto-related listings have a history of sharp debut swings, reflecting both the sector’s sensitivity to sentiment and the limited set of direct public-market comparables. BitGo’s debut fits that pattern, offering movement but little immediate direction. What Does BitGo Bring to Public Markets? Founded in 2013, BitGo is one of the largest crypto custodians operating in the United States. The company reports more than $100 billion in assets held on its platform and provides custody, wallet infrastructure, staking, and settlement services to institutional clients. Unlike trading venues that rely heavily on transaction volumes, custodians derive much of their revenue from safekeeping, infrastructure, and ancillary services tied to institutional adoption. That business mix can offer more predictable revenue streams, but it also places heavy weight on trust, regulatory standing, and balance-sheet strength. BitGo’s listing stands out as the first major crypto-related IPO of 2026. It arrives at a moment when U.S. regulatory conditions appear more stable than in recent years, particularly for firms operating in custody and infrastructure rather than retail trading. Investor Takeaway Custody-focused firms tend to trade more like financial infrastructure providers than high-growth exchanges, which may temper both upside expectations and downside risk. Why the Timing Matters for the Sector The IPO follows conditional approval in December for BitGo to pursue a U.S. trust bank charter, alongside other digital-asset firms. That regulatory development has been read by parts of the market as a sign that pathways for compliant crypto infrastructure are becoming clearer. BitGo’s debut also comes as other crypto-native firms weigh public listings. Custody rival Anchorage Digital, along with exchanges such as Kraken and Bitpanda, are reported to be considering IPOs later this year. Together, these plans suggest a broader reopening of the public markets for crypto firms after a prolonged slowdown. Investors are likely to view BitGo’s trading as an early reference point. A stable aftermarket could support confidence for other issuers, while extended weakness might reinforce caution about valuation and timing. What to Watch After the IPO In the near term, attention will likely turn to whether BTGO can build a base above its offer price as early trading settles. Sustained volume, analyst coverage, and initial earnings disclosures will shape how investors reassess the company beyond its first-day performance. More broadly, BitGo’s listing may help clarify how public markets value crypto custodians relative to exchanges and other service providers. As more firms test investor appetite, distinctions between business models, revenue stability, and regulatory exposure are likely to play a larger role in pricing.

What Is Trump Accusing JPMorgan Of? U.S. President Donald Trump has filed a $5 billion lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase and its chief executive Jamie Dimon, alleging that the bank unlawfully closed several of his personal and business accounts to advance a political agenda. The lawsuit was filed in a Florida state court in Miami-Dade County and claims the bank violated its own internal policies by singling him out during a period of heightened political tension. According to the complaint, Trump argues that JPMorgan acted “to ride the political tide” by terminating relationships with him and entities linked to his hospitality business. The lawsuit frames the account closures not as routine risk management, but as a politically motivated decision that caused financial disruption and reputational damage. Trump further alleged that the bank’s actions forced him and related parties to approach other financial institutions to relocate funds, an effort he says made it clear they had been effectively debanked. He claims this process harmed their standing and relationships across the financial system. Investor Takeaway The lawsuit adds legal risk to an already sensitive area for large banks, where account closures can quickly escalate from compliance decisions into political flashpoints. How Has JPMorgan Responded? JPMorgan denied that it closes accounts for political or religious reasons. In a statement included in the court filings, the bank said: “While we regret President Trump has sued us, we believe the suit has no merit. We respect the President’s right to sue us and our right to defend ourselves.” The bank said it closes accounts that create legal or regulatory risk, adding that rules and supervisory expectations often require such action. “We regret having to do so but often rules and regulatory expectations lead us to do so,” JPMorgan said. Shares of JPMorgan closed up 0.5% on Thursday, suggesting limited immediate market reaction to the lawsuit. Investors appear to be treating the case as part of a broader political and regulatory debate rather than a threat to near-term earnings. Why Is Debanking Back in the Spotlight? The case lands amid renewed political scrutiny of large banks over claims that they have restricted services to certain individuals or industries for non-financial reasons. Conservative lawmakers and advocacy groups have accused lenders of discriminating against sectors such as firearms, fossil fuels, and cryptocurrency. That pressure has intensified during Trump’s second term in office. He has repeatedly accused banks of refusing to do business with him and other conservatives, allegations that banks have denied. In December, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency said in a report that the nine largest U.S. banks had limited services to certain industries between 2020 and 2023. The regulator did not cite specific violations but said banks either refused services outright or imposed heightened scrutiny. Industries affected included oil and gas, crypto firms, tobacco and e-cigarette manufacturers, and firearm companies. The report noted that many banks publicly disclosed restrictive policies, often linked to environmental, social, and governance considerations. Since then, the regulator said banks have scaled back some of those practices and that it continues to review thousands of debanking-related complaints. Investor Takeaway Regulatory retreat from reputational-risk supervision may reduce pressure on banks, but high-profile lawsuits keep the issue alive in courts and public debate. How Does This Fit Trump’s Broader Banking Fight? Trump has also targeted other major lenders, including Bank of America, with similar accusations. Capital One Financial is currently seeking to dismiss a related lawsuit filed last year by several Trump plaintiffs, including Trump’s son Eric. That case remains pending. The JPMorgan lawsuit also intersects with policy debates over credit access. Trump recently called for a 10% cap on credit card interest rates, a proposal that has drawn resistance from the banking industry. Speaking at the World Economic Forum, Jamie Dimon said such a cap would restrict access to credit for many consumers and amount to an “economic disaster.” At the same time, bank executives have welcomed the administration’s broader push for deregulation, which they say could reduce compliance burdens and improve profitability. Federal regulators last year said they would stop examining banks under a reputational-risk standard, which allowed supervisors to penalize activities that were legal but controversial. Many banks had criticized that standard as vague and subjective. The industry has also urged regulators to revise anti-money laundering rules, which can require banks to close accounts without providing detailed explanations to customers. What Comes Next? The lawsuit now moves into the early stages of litigation in Florida state court. The White House referred questions to Trump’s private lawyer, who had no immediate comment. JPMorgan has said it will defend the case. Beyond the courtroom, the dispute adds momentum to a policy debate already underway in Washington over how banks balance compliance obligations, political pressure, and customer access. Even if the case does not succeed on the merits, it keeps debanking firmly on the regulatory agenda.

KEY TAKEAWAYS Binance dominates shorting with versatile tools like margin, futures, and options, offering high leverage up to 125x and low fees starting at 0.1%. Coinbase provides regulated shorting through futures and perpetuals with up to 20x leverage, emphasizing security and institutional appeal. Still, its higher 0.6% fees and limited spot margin may deter cost-sensitive users while appealing to those prioritizing compliance. Robinhood lacks direct crypto shorting capabilities, focusing on zero-commission spot trading for a limited selection of coins, which suits beginners integrating crypto with stocks but forces advanced users to seek alternatives for bearish strategies. Fees and leverage vary significantly, with Binance offering the most competitive rates and amplification for short positions. Risks of shorting include the potential for unlimited losses from price surges, amplified by leverage on Binance and Coinbase. At the same time, Robinhood's omission of these tools reduces exposure but limits profit opportunities in declining markets.   Traders can make money by shorting cryptocurrencies, which means selling assets they don't own with the plan to repurchase them at a lower price. In 2026, the crypto landscape is constantly changing, and platforms like Binance, Coinbase, and Robinhood offer varying levels of support for these techniques, depending on the rules, user experience, and available tools.  Binance and Coinbase offer a wide range of derivatives for shorting, while Robinhood provides only a few because it wants to keep things simple. It shows how each one meets the needs of different types of traders as the market changes. By looking at these factors, we can see why more experienced users like Binance, while beginners might like Coinbase, and why Robinhood might not be suitable for shorting at all. Shorting Mechanisms on Each Platform Binance is the world's biggest crypto exchange, with an average daily trading volume of $76 billion. It has a whole ecosystem that supports more than 350 cryptocurrencies. It is excellent at derivatives, which makes it perfect for shorting with options, futures, and perpetual contracts. Coinbase is a U.S.-regulated exchange that is listed on NASDAQ. It prioritizes compliance and security, keeping 98% of its funds in cold storage and serving more than 50% of its clients. It has more than 350 coins and lets you short futures, but the costs are higher.  Robinhood is a stock trading app that is easy to use and doesn't charge any fees. It focuses on retail investors who are 31 years old on average and offers stocks, ETFs, options, and a small selection of 10+ popular cryptocurrencies. But it doesn't have any instruments for shorting crypto derivatives; instead, it focuses on spot trading. These disparities are due to different regulatory positions: Binance operates worldwide with reduced fees but is under regulatory scrutiny, Coinbase focuses on complying with SEC laws, and Robinhood connects traditional finance with crypto under U.S. brokerage restrictions. Analysts call Binance the "Google" of crypto because it works so well, Coinbase the "Goldman Sachs" of crypto because it has a compliance moat, and Robinhood the "TikTok" of crypto because it is easy to use and social. How to Short on Each Platform You can short on Binance in a lot of different ways, but margin trading and derivatives are the most common. With margin trading, people borrow assets to sell short and repay them later at a lower price. Auto-borrow capabilities make this process easier. Futures and perpetual contracts let you go short by selling contracts, which enables you to make money when prices go down without having to borrow spot assets. Short-selling options on BTC and ETH lets you sell contracts without owning the underlying asset. You can turn it on by taking a quiz and then going into "long/short" mode. Leveraging up to 125x increases both potential benefits and hazards. Coinbase lets customers short by using futures and perpetual futures. To start a short position, users place sell orders, which allows them profit from price drops. Nano Bitcoin Futures are easy to get into because they are only 1/100th of a BTC and can be leveraged up to 20 times. Coinbase doesn't offer spot margin trading as Binance does. Instead, it focuses on regulated derivatives for more than 90 cryptocurrencies, including a COIN50-PERP index. Reviews that talk about how appealing it is to institutions show that this is good for conservative traders. Robinhood doesn't let you short cryptocurrencies directly because it doesn't provide margin trading or derivatives for digital assets. This tool enables you to short stocks through margin accounts, which means you can borrow shares to sell and then purchase them back at a lower price. However, it doesn't work with Bitcoin. Robinhood doesn't let users buy put options or sell calls on crypto, so they have to go to other platforms to make negative bets on crypto. This constraint aligns with its focus on retail, as comparisons show it is easier to use than more complex solutions. Costs, Leverage, and Ease of Access Binance has the lowest fees, starting at 0.1% for spot and even lower with BNB discounts. The prices for derivatives are very low for shorting. High leverage (up to 100x on options and 125x on futures) attracts aggressive traders, but they need to be careful with risk. Accessibility is worldwide, though U.S. users use Binance US with limits. Coinbase charges higher fees: 0.6% for spot trades and 0% to 5% for transactions, including futures. Leverage is limited to 20 times, with safety taking precedence over amplification. Its easy-to-use design and staking possibilities (up to 14%) make it easier for newcomers to use, but the fees are not transparent. Robinhood doesn't charge any fees for crypto trades (0.03%–0.85% through routing), and there are no minimums save for optional Gold at $5 per month. But leverage doesn't matter for crypto if you don't have shorting tools. Its mobile-first design makes it easy to use, but short sellers don't like that it has few coins and no complex capabilities. Risks and Regulatory Considerations Shorting increases risks, such as liquidation due to volatility, especially when you use a lot of leverage on Binance. Coinbase's regulated futures reduce certain risks by complying with the rules, but the fees cut into earnings. Robinhood doesn't let consumers short crypto, which means they miss out on opportunities in bear markets. Coinbase is safe because it is registered with the SEC, while Binance is under global inspection. Robinhood, on the other hand, complies with U.S. brokerage laws and doesn't offer crypto derivatives. Analysts say that Coinbase's compliance is a "moat," but they also say that hefty expenses will limit growth. Support and User Experience Binance's platform is suitable for specialists with ample liquidity; it can be too much for beginners. Coinbase has easy-to-use tools like simple conversions, but the level of support you can get varies. Robinhood is praised for its simplicity, including alerts and charts, even though it has several problems. FAQs How can I short crypto on Binance? Use margin trading to borrow and sell assets, or open short positions, via futures, perpetual contracts, or options on BTC/ETH, with leverage up to 125x. Does Coinbase support shorting cryptocurrencies? Yes, through futures and perpetual futures, where sell orders open short positions, offering up to 20x leverage on over 90 assets. Can I short crypto on Robinhood? No, Robinhood does not offer margin trading or derivatives for cryptocurrencies, limiting users to spot buying and selling. What are the fees for shorting on these platforms? Binance has low fees starting at 0.1%, Coinbase charges 0.6% or more, and Robinhood has zero commissions but no shorting options. What risks come with shorting crypto? High leverage can lead to liquidations and unlimited losses if prices rise, and platforms like Binance amplify this effect due to volatility. References Coinbase Vs. Robinhood: Which One Is Better For Cryptocurrency Investing?: Bankrate Coinbase vs. Robinhood vs. Binance: Which of the Future Financial Giants Do You Favor?: Binance Square  Coinbase vs. Robinhood: 2026 Comparison: NerdWallet 

KEY TAKEAWAYS Short squeezes in crypto are driven by a self-reinforcing cycle of forced buybacks from liquidations, which occur more readily due to high leverage levels that amplify even minor price increases, setting off chain reactions absent in the more regulated leverage environments of traditional markets. The 24/7 nature of crypto trading, without circuit breakers or halts, allows sentiment shifts from news or events to trigger squeezes instantaneously, in contrast to stock markets' structured hours that provide buffers against rapid escalations. High volatility and thin liquidity in cryptocurrencies, particularly altcoins, magnify the impact of buy orders during squeezes, leading to sharper, more frequent price surges than in deeper liquidity pools on established stock exchanges. Triggers like macroeconomic data releases or regulatory news can quickly flip bearish positions in crypto, whereas in traditional markets, institutional flows predominate and changes unfold more gradually. Risks from short squeezes include massive capital losses and increased market instability, necessitating strategies such as low-leverage trading and real-time monitoring of open interest and funding rates to anticipate and navigate these events effectively.   Short squeezes are an essential event in financial markets. When asset values rise, short sellers have to buy back their positions, which often intensifies the upward trend. This dynamic occurs across many asset classes, but research shows it is more common and stronger in Bitcoin markets.  Crypto ecosystems differ from typical stock markets because they have structural features that make emotions change quickly and reactions stronger. This essay, based on research by industry experts, examines why short squeezes occur more frequently in crypto and what participants in this volatile market should consider when they do. What Short Squeezes Are and How They Work When the price of an asset rises unexpectedly, short sellers, who have borrowed and sold the asset in the hope it will fall, are forced to repurchase it at a higher price to limit their losses. This buying activity drives prices even higher, creating a cycle that feeds on itself. Short selling in cryptocurrency usually means using leveraged positions on derivatives platforms.  Traders borrow assets like Bitcoin, sell them, and then try to repurchase them at a lower price later. But if prices go up, margin requirements tighten, leading to forced liquidations. In these cases, exchanges automatically close positions, which adds more buy orders to the market. Because perpetual futures and high-leverage trading are so common in crypto, the mechanics are very different. When positions reach certain levels, they are closed, which typically leads to more closures as prices rise and more positions are closed. This feedback loop, also called a "chain reaction," worsens due to psychological factors such as fear of missing out (FOMO) and herd behaviour, which keep people in the market longer and make prices more volatile. The Main Differences Between Crypto and Traditional Markets in Terms of Market Structure In traditional stock markets, rules are in place to slow down sudden price changes and allow them to occur gradually. These rules include trading halts, circuit breakers, and set hours. Cryptocurrency markets, on the other hand, are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, worldwide, without such interventions. This means that news or events can cause squeezes at any moment without stopping. This constant activity makes it easier for retail traders, social media trends, and significant wallet actions to change their minds quickly, which can quickly fill up short positions. Also, crypto doesn't have a single place to publish short interest. Instead, it uses factors like financing rates and open interest to determine where people are positioned. Negative financing rates, when shorts pay longs to keep their positions, often signal that many people are betting against the market. This sets the scenario for squeezes when stories change. In traditional markets, squeezes occur less frequently because positions grow and unwind over more extended periods. This is because there is greater institutional control and less retail impact. How High Leverage Makes Crypto Short Squeezes Stronger Leverage is a significant factor in why short squeezes happen so often in crypto. Traders can use multipliers of up to 100x, meaning that a price change of only 1–2%, which is normal in everyday crypto volatility, can trigger many liquidations. This is different from traditional markets, where leverage is usually lower and more controlled. This makes it less likely that small changes will cause a chain reaction of closures. In perpetual futures, which are the most popular type of crypto trading, strong open interest and clustered liquidation levels make the market weak. For example, Bitcoin's open interest reaching $66–67 billion before economic data releases makes a squeeze more likely, since small price moves can liquidate billions in shorts. Such amplification is uncommon in stocks because they have stricter margin limits and less volatility, which makes them less likely to explode as digital assets do. Factors That Affect Volatility and Liquidity Cryptocurrency is naturally volatile, which makes squeezes more likely. This is due to speculative trading and limited liquidity in the altcoin market. Prices can change by several percent in just a few minutes, which makes buy orders from liquidations bigger and rallies sharper than in liquid stock markets. When liquidity is low, especially in smaller tokens, whale buys or institutional flows can have a significant impact, quickly shifting the mood from bearish to bullish. Psychological biases make things worse: being too sure of yourself leads to too many short positions, and holding onto old prices makes covering take longer, worsening squeezes. Traditional markets are better at handling shocks because they have greater liquidity and are managed by professionals. Squeezes tend to happen in certain stocks rather than throughout the whole market. Things That Often Cause Short Squeezes in Cryptocurrency Unexpected good news, such as changes in the economy or regulations, often triggers price movements in crypto. For instance, solid U.S. inflation statistics might ease expectations of rate hikes, leading to rallies that close out short positions. When there are a lot of shorts relative to daily volume, like $500 million in shorts against $200 million in volume, it indicates strong squeeze setups. Other factors that can drive prices up include listings, partnerships, or community buzz. In crypto, these factors can turn bearish stories around more quickly because it is decentralized and driven by mood. In traditional markets, events like these occur more predictably and have less immediate impact on leverage. Examples of Crypto Short Squeezes in the Real World Bitcoin is a good example. BTC went up from $89,800 to $94,400, a 5.28% jump, when a lot of people were shorting it. This resulted in $433.44 million in total liquidations, of which $307.90 million came from shorts. Another episode on January 6, 2026, saw $415 million go up in smoke, with 77% of that coming from shorts, as Bitcoin approached $94,000. Another example is $116 million in perpetual futures liquidations, mostly shorts on Bitcoin ($75.68 million). This shows how squeezes eliminate excessive speculation but make markets more volatile. These are different from stock squeezes like GameStop, which took weeks to build up, showing how quickly crypto moves. Market Participants Face Risks and Strategic Implications Short squeezes are quite risky since they can wipe out your capital if you trade too much or get too emotional. Businesses that use Bitcoin for payroll can face liquidity and compliance issues when prices fluctuate. To get through, you need to keep an eye on funding rates, use minimal leverage (2x-5x), implement stop-losses, and spread your assets among several types of investments. Using derivatives to hedge and dollar-cost averaging can help mitigate the effects, underscoring the importance of managing risk carefully in the volatile world of cryptocurrencies. FAQs What is a short squeeze in cryptocurrency? A short squeeze occurs when rising prices force short sellers to cover their positions, creating upward momentum through liquidations and feedback loops. Why are short squeezes more common in crypto than stocks? Factors include high leverage, 24/7 trading, volatility, and low liquidity, which amplify small moves into cascading liquidations. What triggers a crypto short squeeze? Unexpected positive news, like inflation data or regulatory changes, can reverse bearish sentiment and liquidate crowded short positions. How does leverage contribute to short squeezes? High multipliers (up to 100x) make positions vulnerable to minor fluctuations, leading to automatic closures and forced buying. What strategies can mitigate risks from short squeezes? Use low leverage, set stop losses, monitor funding rates, and diversify to avoid overexposure in volatile markets. References What Is a Short Squeeze in Crypto: A Simple Guide for Big Price Jumps: BingX  Short Squeeze in Crypto Explained: How Liquidations Trigger Rapid Price Surges: BingX  Understanding BTC Short Squeezes: Liquidations and Market Stability: OneSafe Blog

Bittensor (TAO) is a groundbreaking protocol that aims to make machine intelligence available to everyone. As we enter 2026, TAO's price is at $285, and this is a level that shows the effects of recent market declines and the potential for new catalysts to come. But the main concern for investors is whether AI's use in businesses and partnerships with schools can drive up TAO's value. Bittensor's unique concept, which considers intelligence like a good that can be bought and sold in an open market, makes it well-suited to take advantage of these areas. Bittensor could become the go-to infrastructure for businesses looking for scalable solutions and researchers pushing the limits of their work by creating a network where AI models, data, and compute resources compete and are rewarded based on how well they do. This article looks at TAO's pricing potential from 2026 to 2030, taking into account important elements including limited supply, demand from institutions, and usefulness in the actual world. Getting to Know Bittensor's Basic Mechanics Bittensor is a decentralized marketplace for AI resources. People can provide models, data, or computing power to the network and get TAO tokens based on how valuable they are to the network. Bittensor's structure is different from other AI platforms that are run by huge tech companies. It ensures openness and competition, which makes it desirable to business and academic users who value open-source innovation and neutrality. The protocol's tokenomics are based on Bitcoin's, with a hard ceiling of 21 million TAO tokens and a halving mechanism that lowers the amount of new tokens being created over time. This scarcity model is at the heart of what makes it valuable. As of early 2026, more over 70% of the TAO that is now in circulation is staked. This greatly reduces the amount of liquid supply and sets the stage for price increases as demand rises. This implies that businesses may utilise AI computing power without being locked into a single provider, while academics can use the network for collaborative research without having to go via a central gatekeeper. The halving event in December 2025 lowered daily emissions from 7,200 to 3,600 TAO, which brought yearly inflation down to about 13%. This move doesn't cause prices to go up right away, but it does slowly ease the pressure on miners and validators to sell. As analyst Alex DRocks said, "The first Bittensor halving happened this morning... Why isn't the price going up? Because the impacts will show up slowly over time. Every day, 7200 fresh $TAO were put into circulation. There is now half that amount (3600). "That's a lot of money." This point of view shows how the effects of the halving play out over the course of months, paving the way for increased prices as supply becomes more scarce. Halving, Institutions, and Subnet Growth Are the Main Drivers There are several factors that could cause TAO's price to go up, but the most important ones are AI use in business and schools. The halving is a mechanical driver, but it works better when it's combined with genuine utility. As the prices of proprietary AI tools go up, businesses may look to Bittensor's subnets, which are specialised markets within the network, for cheap inference and training. Meanwhile, academics might utilise these subnets to construct models that have been peer-reviewed, which would speed up progress in areas like computer vision or natural language processing. Another important issue is institutional access, as Grayscale filed an S-1 for a Bittensor trust in late 2025, which could mean that it could be eligible for an ETF. This change turns TAO from a minor cryptocurrency into a real infrastructure investment for big investors. It's not a sure thing that approval will come, but just the thought of it might bring in money. This means increased liquidity and legitimacy for businesses and academia, which will lead to wider use of Bittensor in their daily activities. Subnet expansion is where businesses and schools really excel. Bittensor now has more than 128 active subnets, each of which is responsible for a different AI activity, such as generating text or routing compute. The move to Dynamic TAO, where emissions are assigned based on actual demand instead of fixed rules, encourages people to make high-quality contributions.  If businesses start using these subnets to do big computing tasks, like drug discovery or supply chain optimisation, the demand for TAO might go through the roof. In the same way, colleges and universities might set up their own subnets for group projects, which would lock up more tokens through staking and use. This demand, based on usefulness, might turn Bittensor from a speculative asset into a core layer for global AI, which would drive prices up as the amount of Bittensor in circulation goes down. Technical Analysis: Getting Ready for the Upside From a technical point of view, TAO's chart in early 2026 indicates symptoms of accumulation after a long period of consolidation. The token has been trading between $250 and $300 for most of 2025. This has scared off weak holders and let long-term investors build up their stakes. Support levels are strong between $260 and $279, and resistance levels are strong between $300 and $310. If the price closes above this resistance level every week, it could rise towards $400, especially since there isn't much liquid supply. Indicators like the Relative Strength Index (RSI) are still neutral, which means that people are buying in a controlled way instead of too much. Staking takes up more than 70% of tokens, so if enterprise or academic users start using them, it might cause a demand shock and prices could change quickly. This technical arrangement fits with what has happened in the past with assets that are scarce, like Bitcoin after the halving. Bittensor Price Prediction 2026: Taking it in and looking forward For 2026, forecasts depend on how the lower supply and rising demand will affect each other. If things go wrong, like a bigger market crash or more rules, TAO may drop to roughly $210. The base case, on the other hand, expects the halving's impacts to be absorbed along with some institutional inflows, with a target of $580.  If ETFs keep going up and businesses and academics start using subnets more, TAO might go past $1,000. Businesses might employ AI-driven analytics to work together, while schools might exchange open datasets across subnets. If these sectors are what drive subnet activity, the top end of this range becomes more likely because TAO's usefulness makes its value clear. Bittensor Price Prediction for 2027–2028: The Execution Phase As we move into 2027 and 2028, the focus will be on execution. Subnets need to show that they are better than centralized AI providers in some way. Companies might use Bittensor for decentralized, scalable training, which would make them less dependent on big cloud companies. Academics might utilise it for federated learning, which would let people work together from all over the world without having to worry about data silos. As more people get involved, price fluctuations may become less extreme, and TAO trading may become more like vital infrastructure. It's impossible to get exact numbers, but if network demand keeps growing, it may build on the base from 2026 and double or triple valuations if more people start using it. Closed systems could be a threat, but Bittensor's open approach is a great option for businesses that want to save money and for academics who want to push the envelope. Long-Term Vision for the Price of Bittensor in 2029–2030 Bittensor could become a neutral AI layer by 2029–2030. If businesses and schools start using the network on a large scale, like AI in healthcare, finance, or research, the network's worth might skyrocket. If TAO gets into the top 10 in terms of market cap, predictions say it might be worth between $1,300 and $3,900.  This bold but reasonable prediction is based on the idea that subnets will become the default for AI workloads, which will make gains even bigger. Companies might use TAO for real-time inference in self-driving cars, while researchers could come up with new models by rewarding those who contribute to them. In this case, TAO goes beyond crypto and becomes a term for decentralized intelligence. The Possibility of Business and Academic Growth Can AI used in business and school help TAO grow? Yes, if Bittensor's subnets work as promised. The halving makes things scarce, institutions make them available, and actual adoption from these sectors might make demand grow. TAO has a lot of potential for high-alpha in the AI sector right now. As Alex DRocks pointed out, the slow effects of the halving might lead to big gains. If you think the future will be decentralized, 2026–2030 looks good.

KEY TAKEAWAYS Using a separate email for crypto activities provides an essential barrier against phishing and spam. Dedicated emails allow for better filtering and organization of crypto-related alerts, enabling users to quickly identify legitimate notifications and respond to potential threats. A separate Linux laptop boosts crypto security through its open-source design, offering strong encryption and a hardened kernel that resists common malware. By reserving a laptop solely for crypto, users prevent cross-contamination from other activities, such as browsing or downloading, which could introduce viruses or keyloggers that target wallet information and recovery phrases. Combining separate emails and laptops creates a compartmentalized security framework that limits the impact of any single breach, aligning with defense-in-depth principles to protect digital assets in an environment rife with hackers and scammers.   Research shows that using separate emails and specialised machines for crypto-related tasks can greatly lower risks. This method fixes problems that come with shared systems, like phishing attacks and malware infections that affect general-purpose devices and accounts.  This article looks at the reasons for utilising distinct emails for crypto exchanges and specialised laptops, like those that run Linux, to improve overall security. It does this by using information from the industry and security experts. By looking at these practices, we show how they make security stronger in the face of growing dangers in the crypto ecosystem. The Risks of Using Shared Emails and Devices for Crypto  People who use cryptocurrencies frequently don't realise how dangerous it is to use regular emails and personal PCs to manage their digital assets. Over time, shared emails, especially long-standing personal accounts, get spam and phishing efforts, which makes it more likely that you will accidentally see bad content. For example, emails from Hotmail, which started in the late 1990s, are likely to get phony messages that seem like real crypto platforms, such as bogus Coinbase alerts. These might lead to clicks that weren't meant to happen and security holes. Malware that steals wallet keys or watches keystrokes often targets mainstream operating systems like Windows or macOS on personal laptops. These systems are easy to use for everyday tasks, but they don't have the extra security needed for high-risk operations like trading cryptocurrencies. Hackers and scammers are well-known for trying to take advantage of any flaw in the crypto realm. This is why it's important to keep these operations separate so that a single breach doesn't cause a lot of damage. Advantages of Having a Separate Email for Crypto Activities One of the easiest and most efficient ways to improve crypto security is to make separate email addresses just for cryptocurrency accounts. This separation helps keep possible breaches from spreading to adjacent areas. For instance, using a different email for each crypto exchange makes it harder for hackers to get in. If one account is hacked, the others are safe since their credentials are not linked. Additionally, having distinct email accounts makes users less likely to fall for phishing scams since it keeps their inbox clean and focused only on real crypto conversations. Personal emails often get a lot of spam, including smart phishing emails that look like official messages from exchanges. Users can more readily spot and disregard strange messages if they set up a separate email account for crypto. This lowers the chance of falling for fraud. This method also protects your privacy because it stops you from accidentally sharing crucial financial information with others who don't use crypto when you reply to or forward an email. Dedicated emails also help you better organise and filter emails that have to do with cryptocurrencies. Users can set up particular rules to make sure that warnings from exchanges or wallets are prioritised. This way, they can respond to security concerns quickly without having to deal with a lot of unrelated emails. This organisational benefit indirectly improves security by making it easier to find unusual events, including attempts to log in without permission. Overall, platforms like BYDFi stress that this separation adds an extra layer of safety against hackers and scammers, which is why it is a good idea to do so to preserve digital assets. Benefits of Having A Separate Laptop for Crypto Security For crypto users who want to strengthen their defences, switching to a separate laptop, especially one with a secure operating system like Linux, has a lot of benefits. Windows and macOS are popular targets for malware, but Linux is a strong, open-source platform with built-in security measures that make it perfect for handling sensitive crypto operations. Because Linux is open source, the community can look at it and make it stronger, which leads to stronger encryption techniques and a smaller attack surface. A dedicated Linux laptop is like a secure "safe" for crypto assets. It reduces the hazards that come with normal computer use, which could make them less secure. For example, many custom-made Linux computers come with pre-configured secure versions like Linux Mint. These distributions come with capabilities for encrypted storage and safe browsing built in. This configuration keeps crypto wallets, recovery seeds, and transaction data safe against risks that could happen on shared devices, such as keyloggers or malware that could get into a family computer. Also, utilising a separate laptop lets you use extra security measures, like only using hardened browsers like LibreWolf or Brave for crypto tasks. You may set up these browsers with profiles that protect your privacy by blocking trackers and harmful scripts. This makes them even safer against phishing and man-in-the-middle assaults, which are widespread in the crypto realm. Linux technologies like LUKS make it easy to create encrypted USB backups, which provide another layer of security by keeping crucial information safe away from the main machine. Users can prevent the risk of cross-contamination that comes from surfing insecure sites or downloading files on devices that can perform more than one thing by only using their laptops for crypto. How These Practices Make Overall Crypto Risk Management Better Adding separate emails and laptops to a crypto security plan significantly changes how risk is managed by encouraging compartmentalisation. This idea, which is sometimes called "defence in depth," makes it much tougher for attackers to get through by putting up many obstacles. For instance, even if a phishing email gets through a dedicated inbox, the laptop's isolated environment can stop malware from running because its OS is more secure and its rights are more limited. Research from security-focused sources shows that this kind of separation greatly lessens the effects of intrusions. If a personal email is hacked, the fact that it isn't connected to crypto accounts means that wallets or exchanges can't be accessed right away. Also, a Linux laptop is less likely to get infected with typical viruses, thus crypto operations are safe even if other devices in the house get infected. This method also promotes better behaviours, such as regular upgrades and two-factor authentication that is specific to the system, which makes security even better. Also, these steps are in line with what the rest of the business says to do to defend against the particular threats in cryptocurrencies, such as targeted scams and hacking of exchanges. Users can focus on watching specific signs of compromise, like strange login attempts in isolated emails or system logs on the dedicated laptop, by limiting shared resources. In the end, this proactive approach not only protects assets but also gives users more confidence in how to navigate the unstable crypto landscape. Possible Problems and the Best Ways to Implement It's evident that there are benefits, but setting up separate laptops and emails requires careful preparation to prevent typical mistakes. Managing various passwords and keeping the dedicated laptop up to date without putting it at danger are two of the problems. To fix this, users should only use password managers on their protected devices and choose email providers like ProtonMail that focus on privacy for their crypto accounts. The best way to do this is to start with one email address for each major exchange and add more over time. Choosing pre-hardened Linux setups from well-known providers for laptops is the best way to ensure security without needing a lot of technical knowledge. Backing up your data often with encrypted tools and not installing software you don't need can make your protection even better. Users can get the most security benefits with the least amount of operational complexity by following these rules. FAQs Why should I use a separate email for my crypto accounts? A separate email isolates crypto communications, reducing phishing risks and preventing breaches from spreading to other accounts. How does a dedicated laptop improve crypto security? It provides a secure environment free from everyday threats, especially with Linux's encryption and low malware susceptibility. Is Linux better than Windows for crypto activities? Yes, Linux's open-source nature and hardened features make it more resistant to attacks targeting crypto users. What are the privacy benefits of these practices? They prevent accidental sharing of sensitive data and allow focused monitoring of crypto-specific threats. Can I use free email services for crypto? Yes, but choose secure providers; the key is dedication and isolation from personal use. References Should You Use A Separate Email Address When Investing in Crypto?: Medium  Why You Need a Linux Laptop for Crypto Security: Freedom Technology & Services  What are the benefits of having a separate email address for managing my cryptocurrency investments?: BYDFi 

KEY TAKEAWAYS Signature Bank's pivot to crypto deposits accelerated its growth but exposed it to unprecedented volatility and contagion risks, leading to its seizure by regulators in March 2023. Poor governance and inadequate liquidity management were the root causes, as the bank failed to align risk practices with its expanded complexity. The failure revealed flaws in liquidity risk models, showing that traditional assumptions underestimate the speed of digital-era deposit runs. Regulators now emphasize updated frameworks to incorporate technology, customer behaviour, and sectoral concentrations like crypto. For the crypto industry, the loss of banking partners could slow U.S. growth, forcing firms to seek alternatives or relocate offshore.   In March 2023, Signature Bank, a well-known commercial bank based in New York, failed in a big way. This shocked both the traditional banking industry and the cryptocurrency business. The bank was founded in 2001 and at first specialized in loans for commercial real estate and industry. However, during the pandemic-era boom, it shifted its focus to higher-risk projects, including a big push into crypto-related services.  This change not only sped up its expansion, but it also showed serious problems with how it managed risk. This essay looks at how Signature Bank's exposure to cryptocurrencies led to its downfall and changed the way banks think about risk. It stresses the necessity for stronger liquidity assumptions and governance in the age of digital finance. Signature Bank's Change in Strategy to Crypto Signature Bank started to diversify its portfolio in 2018 because it was too dependent on commercial real estate loans, which were over the risk levels that U.S. regulators said were safe. At a financial industry conference in 2018, John Tamberlane, the bank's vice chairman, said, "We don't want the commercial real estate concentration that we currently have." To help with this, the bank started lending to cab drivers, heavy-equipment companies, private-equity investors for short periods of time, and, most importantly, a digital assets banking organization. The bank's acceptance of cryptocurrencies began with the development of Signet, a blockchain-based payment network in 2019. This platform lets commercial clients, including crypto businesses, make payments in real time 24 hours a day, seven days a week. By January 2021, Signature had almost $10 billion in crypto deposits, making it a major participant in the space. Eric Howell, a bank official, said it was "the best player in that space." By the end of 2022, deposits tied to digital assets made up around 20% of the bank's total deposits. This helped the bank's assets expand from $47 billion in 2018 to $110.4 billion. But this diversity made things more dangerous in new ways. The bank's plan depended on uninsured deposits from crypto customers, which were very concentrated and affected by changes in the market. As the crypto industry went through a rough patch, with platforms like FTX going down in November 2022 (they were a client of Signature), regulatory attention grew. To protect themselves, the bank sold off $8 billion in crypto-related deposits in December 2022, but confidence was already starting to fall. The Cascade that Led to Failure In March 2023, a wider banking crisis caused a liquidity issue that led to the failure of Signature Bank. On March 8, Silvergate Bank closed its doors, and on March 10, Silicon Valley Bank failed. This caused panic and a huge amount of money to leave Signature Bank. On March 12, the New York State Department of Financial Services took over the bank because it couldn't give accurate information, which led to a loss of trust in its leadership. Regulatory reviews found that bad management and weak risk controls were the main problems. The FDIC's assessment said that the bank was trying to grow "quickly and without limits" without putting in place and keeping up with risk management techniques and controls that were suitable for the size, complexity, and risk profile of the organization. In particular, Signature didn't realize how risky it was to be involved with crypto, since many of its digital asset clients pulled out their money during a time of industry instability.  The run got worse because the bank relied too much on uninsured deposits, which made up more than 80% of all deposits. These funds turned out to be much less "sticky" than expected. Investigations also found possible problems with following anti-money laundering (AML) rules when it came to bitcoin clients. Before the collapse, the FDIC was getting ready to issue a consent order for what looked like violations of sanctions and anti-money laundering (AML) rules. This shows how crypto exposure made regulatory and reputational risks worse. Rethinking Banking Risk Models Post-Signature The collapse of Signature Bank showed that typical banking risk models have big holes in them, especially when it comes to managing liquidity and making assumptions about how people will deposit money. Before the collapse, models typically didn't take into account how quickly and how much money would be withdrawn, especially in digital contexts where clients could move money immediately through platforms like Signet. The New York Department of Financial Services' internal study said that "the rapid collapse of Signature shows how important it is to rethink the assumptions used to model and manage liquidity risk." Depositors took out money at rates that were much higher than normal stress conditions. This led to requests for new frameworks that take into consideration technology-driven behaviours and the unique volatility of cryptocurrencies. Since then, banks and regulators have pushed for better evaluations of liquidity risk. The FDIC's Material Loss Review said that Signature's wrong assumptions about deposit loyalty, especially from crypto clients, showed that uninsured, concentrated deposits need to be modelled more carefully. This has caused bigger changes in the industry, such as stricter stress testing for mid-sized banks and more attention on sectoral concentrations like digital assets.  For example, the joint statement from U.S. regulators in January 2023 cautioned against the systemic dangers of crypto, which kept banks from getting into similar situations and made sure these risks were taken into account when calculating risk-weighted assets. The European Central Bank reiterated these worries in Europe, saying that banks like Signature were at risk from crypto since they were growing so quickly. It also called on regulators to do a better job of finding links between traditional banking and riskier industries. Overall, Signature's case has led to a trend towards risk models that are more flexible and cognisant of technology and that put a lot of emphasis on planning for the unexpected and keeping an eye on things in real time. Effects on the Crypto Industry Signature's failure hurt the U.S. crypto economy in more ways than just banking. As one of the few big banks that would work with crypto businesses, its failure caused a gap in important services like dollar deposits and fast transfers. Taylor Johnson, who helped start PsyFi, said, "If there is no U.S. bank that will take deposits from a crypto client, the effects would be huge." It would hurt a lot and make people and businesses in the U.S. do less with crypto. John Lo, managing partner at Recharge Capital, said that smaller crypto businesses would be hit the hardest because major companies are switching to bigger banks and new initiatives are having trouble finding partners. Ryan Selkis, one of the founders of Messari, tweeted that "crypto's banking rails have been effectively shuttered in less than a week." He saw this as an indication that crypto is not accepted in the U.S. This has caused several companies to move their operations overseas, which could hurt innovation in the US. FAQs What was Signature Bank's role in the crypto industry? Signature Bank provided essential services like the Signet platform for real-time transfers and held billions in crypto deposits, making it a key ally for exchanges and startups. Why did Signature Bank fail? A combination of rapid deposit outflows triggered by banking contagion, overreliance on uninsured crypto-linked deposits, and weak risk management led to its collapse. How has this changed banking risk models? It prompted a reevaluation of liquidity assumptions, with regulators advocating for models that account for faster withdrawals and crypto-specific risks. What are the implications for crypto firms? Without major U.S. banking partners, crypto businesses face challenges in handling dollar deposits, potentially reducing activity and driving operations abroad. Were there warning signs before the failure? Yes, regulatory concerns about AML compliance and crypto exposure were mounting, alongside the bank's efforts to reduce digital asset ties post-FTX collapse. References Why Signature Bank's Failure Is Worrying the Crypto Industry: Time Magazine  Signature Bank's Move Into Higher-Risk Businesses, Such As Crypto, Major Reason For Failure: WSJ: Yahoo Finance  Material Loss Review of Signature Bank of New York: FDIC OIG

The FIX Trading Community has launched a new industry working group focused on the evolution of 24-hour trading in U.S. equities, as momentum builds toward extended and continuous market access. The initiative comes amid growing activity from alternative trading systems offering overnight access to U.S. stocks, and as major market infrastructure providers signal readiness to expand beyond traditional trading hours. While overnight trading currently represents a small fraction of overall U.S. equity volumes, FIX believes the market is approaching an inflection point that requires coordinated industry engagement. Overnight Equity Trading Moves Closer to the Mainstream Several alternative trading systems have already launched services enabling overnight trading in U.S. equities. Although volumes remain modest at roughly 0.1% of total U.S. market activity, interest from both retail and institutional participants is accelerating. Industry projections suggest overnight trading could grow to between 1% and 10% of total U.S. equity volume by 2028, driven by global investor demand, increased retail participation, and advances in market infrastructure. FIX Executive Director Jim Kaye said these developments indicate the market is nearing a tipping point. With extended-hours trading no longer theoretical, the industry must begin addressing operational, regulatory, and structural implications. Major Market Infrastructures Signal Extended Hours The timing of the FIX working group coincides with recent announcements from key U.S. market institutions. Exchanges including NYSE, Cboe, and Nasdaq, alongside Securities Information Processors and the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, have outlined plans to support 24/5 trading models. According to Kaye, these initiatives mark a critical shift in market structure. “This is the right time to rally the industry to ensure we’re ready for the next stage of overnight trading,” he said, pointing to the need for alignment across trading venues, clearing, and data infrastructure. The working group will examine how broker-dealers and alternative trading systems may operate in extended sessions, and what broader access means for global investors seeking exposure to U.S. equities outside traditional market hours. Addressing Liquidity, Regulation, and Workflow Challenges Despite growing interest, 24-hour equity trading presents several challenges. Lower liquidity and wider bid-ask spreads during overnight sessions remain key concerns, particularly for institutional participants accustomed to deep daytime markets. The working group will also explore how existing regulatory frameworks apply outside U.S. trading hours, including market surveillance, investor protection, and reporting obligations across jurisdictions. Another focus will be how to integrate 24-hour trading into established institutional workflows, from order management and risk controls to post-trade processing and settlement. FIX has invited firms across the market ecosystem to participate in shaping practical, interoperable solutions. Takeaway: FIX’s new 24-hour trading working group signals that overnight U.S. equity trading is moving from niche experimentation toward mainstream market structure, forcing the industry to confront liquidity, regulatory, and operational readiness sooner rather than later.

Crypto markets were hit by another wave of panic selling this week as Bitcoin slid more than 4%, triggering over $1.8 billion in liquidations on January 20. This has also affected other altcoins like Cardano, forcing traders to reassess their near term Cardano price prediction as bearish pressure continues. While the Cardano ADA forecast remains uncertain in the short term, capital is increasingly flowing into high conviction presales like DeepSnitch AI, where a tightening launch countdown and aggressive bonus structure are fueling speculation around a potential 200x breakout. Bitcoin crash sparks $1.8B liquidation wave as 2025 gains erased On Tuesday, Bitcoin continued its sell-off, falling an additional 4% as risk sentiment in the cryptocurrency market sharply declined. US President Donald Trump's renewed tariff rhetoric and the volatility of Japanese government bonds have contributed to the most recent decline, rekindling macro uncertainty and putting pressure on speculative assets. On CoinMarketCap, Bitcoin briefly fell from the $89,000 range to almost $87,700, its lowest point since the end of December. Over $1.8 billion in leveraged positions were destroyed in the last 48 hours as a result of the action, which set off a chain reaction of forced closures.  About 93% of those liquidations, according to Coinglass data, came from traders who were positioned for upside, demonstrating how aggressively the market was leaning prior to the reversal. The pullback has now erased all of Bitcoin’s gains for the year, leaving the asset roughly 10% below its 2025 peak, just under $98,000.  DeepSnitch AI draws investors with a potential 200x boost and utility  As traders reassess their Cardano price prediction after weeks of violent swings, a growing number are looking into projects like DeepSnitch AI with momentum and immense potential.  DeepSnitch AI features five AI agents inside a single dashboard, four of which are live, SnitchFeed, SnitchGPT, SnitchScan, and AuditSnitch. Everything funnels into one interface, which is already usable today.  One of these agents, SnitchScan, helps traders cut through noise within issues like the Cardano price prediction, tracking real on-chain and social signals, then translating them into simple scores and alerts inside the dashboard.  Recent upgrades now allow direct contract address analysis, breaking down why a token looks strong or risky rather than hiding behind vague labels.  Its reward system is also a major attraction. Investors can earn bonus rewards like a 30% bonus on purchases of $2,000 or more using DSNTVIP30, a 50% bonus on $5,000+ with DSNTVIP50, and a 150% bonus for purchases up to $10,000 with DSNTVIP150.  The highest tier, DSNTVIP300, offers a 300% allocation boost on contributions of $30,000 and above. These incentives and more are designed to reward early investors, making now the best time to join as the countdown accelerates. Cardano price prediction: ADA records 15% decline as altcoin markets turn bearish  The Cardano price prediction has declined over the past week, with the ADA token trading at $0.424 on January 15 before sinking to $0.359 by January 21, marking a 15% drop amid renewed weakness in altcoin markets. This decline shows wider pressure across digital assets, with Bitcoin and other major tokens also struggling under bearish sentiment and recent liquidation waves.   While this movement feeds into the ADA long-term prediction, it also shows how sensitive altcoins remain subject to bearish conditions before recovering after the change in sentiment.  BTC drops below $90k amid crypto liquidations  Bitcoin’s price has slipped noticeably over the past week, moving from $94,880 on January 15 to $89,194 by January 21, a roughly 6% decline as the bearish sentiment grips the crypto market. The move under the key $90,000 mark has coincided with a fresh wave of forced selling, with capital shifting away from speculative BTC bets into safer assets.   Some analysts point to the breakdown below $90k as a technical trigger that increased selling pressure. While long-term supporters still note Bitcoin’s resilience and structural demand, the recent decline shows that even the largest crypto is subject to volatility  Conclusion While the latest Cardano price prediction shows bearish pressure after $1.8B in liquidations shook the market, smart investors are seeking opportunities in presales that provide both utility and upside.  As the Cardano price prediction continues to face short term uncertainty, DeepSnitch AI gives traders immediate tools to navigate volatility and position for potential 200x gains. With limited time bonus codes like DSNTVIP30, DSNTVIP50, DSNTVIP150, and DSNTVIP300, traders can join now and enjoy massive rewards before the launch date.  Visit the official website for priority access and check out X and Telegram for their latest community updates. FAQs What is the Cardano price outlook for 2026? The Cardano price outlook for 2026 remains volatile but could recover over the medium term. Meanwhile, DeepSnitch AI offers live trading intelligence, actionable insights, and presale bonuses, making it a more compelling choice for traders looking to recover losses. According to the Cardano price prediction, will ADA reach $1? ADA may reach $1 in a strong bullish cycle, which is why the Cardano price prediction continues to attract attention. However, many investors see DeepSnitch AI’s 200x potential as a far more rewarding opportunity during the current market phase. Is it too late to invest in DeepSnitch AI? It is not too late to invest in DeepSnitch AI. With the presale in its final stage, launch approaching, and bonus allocations still active, early investors can still gain maximum advantage while positioning for the platform’s live utility and potential 200x upside.

In response to the short report previously released by the short-selling firm Capitalwatch, AppLovin responded by firmly refuting all allegations in the report. The report is filled with false, misleading, and illogical allegations. In its public disclosure filings, AppLovin has provided full and transparent disclosures regarding the company's material investments, global business operations, and information related to major shareholders. As a publicly traded company, AppLovin's common stock is traded freely on the open market; the company cannot, and is not able to, control any individual's or institution's buying, selling, or holding of its shares. AppLovin operates a highly compliant and highly transparent advertising platform and consistently adheres to strict financial compliance standards. In terms of platform governance, we conduct rigorous audits of advertisers and developers through multi-layered and cross-validated audit and risk control mechanisms, including KYC (Know Your Customer) and tax compliance verification, while combining automated and manual review systems to ensure the integrity of the platform ecosystem. Furthermore, as part of platform governance, we explicitly prohibit any illegal or sensitive content (including gambling products) and will take measures such as removal for participants who violate platform rules. Claims regarding "AppLovin assisting in money laundering" or "its products being used for unauthorized downloads" are entirely untrue. AppLovin exists within a mature ecosystem composed of mainstream app stores, operating systems, and payment service providers. Apps that monetize through our platform must be publicly listed on mainstream app stores and undergo their independent audit and supervision. From the perspective of economic logic, the so-called "money laundering" allegations are completely untenable: ad display parties can only receive a portion of the revenue from the amount spent by advertisers. This means that any attempt to "launder money" through this method would require giving up a significant proportion of funds while leaving behind highly clear and auditable transaction records between multiple independent corporate entities. Therefore, if the premises of the report were accepted, it would be equivalent to alleging a systemic failure of the entire mobile advertising and app store ecosystem, and the report has not provided any credible evidence to support this conclusion. AppLovin officials stated: We firmly refute all allegations in this report. The report is filled with false, misleading, and illogical allegations. AppLovin has provided full and transparent disclosures in its public disclosure filings regarding its material investments, global business operations, and information related to major shareholders. As a publicly traded company, AppLovin's common stock is traded freely on the open market; the company cannot, and is not able to, control the buying, selling, or holding of shares by any individual or institution. AppLovin operates a highly compliant and transparent advertising platform and consistently adheres to strict financial compliance standards. In terms of platform governance, we conduct rigorous audits of advertisers and developers through multi-layered, cross-validated audit and risk control mechanisms, including KYC and tax compliance verification, while combining automated and manual review systems to ensure the integrity of the platform ecosystem. Furthermore, as part of platform governance, we explicitly prohibit any illegal or sensitive content (including gambling products) and will take measures such as removal for participants who violate platform rules.  For information regarding AppLovin's platform governance rules, please refer to: https://www.applovin.com/en/platform-enforcement. Claims regarding "AppLovin assisting in money laundering" or "its products being used for unauthorized downloads" are entirely untrue. AppLovin exists within a mature ecosystem composed of mainstream app stores, operating systems, and payment service providers. Apps that monetize through our platform must be publicly listed on major app stores and undergo their independent audit and supervision.  From the perspective of economic logic, the so-called "money laundering" allegations are fundamentally untenable: ad display parties only receive a portion of the funds spent by advertisers. This means any attempt to "launder money" through this method would require forfeiting a significant proportion of capital while leaving clear, auditable transaction records between multiple independent corporate entities. Therefore, accepting the report's assumptions would be equivalent to alleging a systemic failure of the entire mobile advertising and app store ecosystem, for which the report provides no credible evidence.

ThetaRay has appointed financial markets technology veteran Brad Levy as Chief Executive Officer, marking a leadership transition as the company accelerates global expansion of its Cognitive AI platform for financial crime compliance. Levy, formerly CEO of financial markets infrastructure platform Symphony, takes the helm as ThetaRay scales its transaction monitoring and due diligence technology across banks and fintechs worldwide. The company positions its Cognitive AI approach as a category-defining alternative to traditional rule-based compliance systems. The appointment comes at a pivotal stage for ThetaRay, following a period of rapid enterprise adoption and product expansion that has established the firm as a leading provider of AI-native compliance solutions. Seasoned Infrastructure Executive Steps In Levy brings decades of experience building and operating mission-critical financial infrastructure at global scale. Most recently, he served as CEO of Symphony, the secure communications and collaboration platform founded by a consortium of major global banks, including Goldman Sachs, and used by hundreds of thousands of financial professionals. Prior to Symphony, Levy was a senior executive and partner at IHS Markit, where he served as CEO of MarkitSERV and led the firm’s global loan settlement and software services business. Earlier in his career, he spent 18 years at Goldman Sachs, ultimately becoming Managing Director and Global Head of the firm’s Principal Strategic Investments Group. “ThetaRay has built the leading AI platform for financial crime compliance, with proven impact across the world’s most complex financial environments,” Levy said. “The industry is reaching a tipping point, where AI is no longer optional but foundational. My focus is on scaling this platform globally, deepening our partnerships with financial institutions, and embedding compliance as a strategic capability that drives sustainable growth.” Leadership Transition as Company Scales Levy succeeds Peter Reynolds, who has served as CEO since June 2023 and will step down due to family reasons. Reynolds will transition into an advisory role and remain actively involved during a defined handover period. Under Reynolds’ leadership, ThetaRay accelerated global growth, expanded its enterprise customer base, and strengthened its end-to-end product suite, helping to position the company as a clear category leader in Cognitive AI financial crime compliance. “ThetaRay is the clear category leader in Cognitive AI for financial crime compliance, and we have reached a moment where scale, execution, and global impact matter more than ever,” said Erel Margalit, Chairman of ThetaRay and Founder and Chair of JVP. “Brad is a proven leader in building and operating core financial infrastructure at global scale, and he is the right CEO to lead ThetaRay into its next phase as a defining platform for the industry.” Backed for Global Expansion in Vertical AI ThetaRay is backed by leading global investors including JVP and Portage, providing capital and strategic support as the company targets expansion across international banking and payments markets. Margalit highlighted that Vertical and Cognitive AI are emerging as the preferred approach for securing monetary transactions, noting that ThetaRay’s technology not only combats increasingly sophisticated financial crime but also enables legitimate global trade by allowing institutions to operate more efficiently and securely. Deployed at major financial institutions including Santander, Clear Bank, Mashreq Bank, Payoneer, Onafriq, and Travelex, ThetaRay’s SaaS platform is designed to shorten implementation cycles, improve risk precision, and transform compliance from a regulatory burden into a driver of sustainable growth. Takeaway: Brad Levy’s appointment signals ThetaRay’s shift from high-growth scale-up to global infrastructure player, as Cognitive and Vertical AI become foundational technologies in transaction monitoring and financial crime compliance.

Miami International Holdings (MIAX) has completed the sale of a 90% stake in MIAX Derivatives Exchange (MIAXdx) to a joint venture formed by Robinhood Markets and Susquehanna International Group, while retaining a 10% equity interest in the exchange and clearinghouse. The transaction marks a significant shift in ownership for MIAXdx, a CFTC-regulated Designated Contract Market and Derivatives Clearing Organization authorised to list and clear fully collateralised futures, options on futures, and swaps. MIAX said the deal aligns with its broader strategy of partnering with major industry players while concentrating capital and resources on organic growth across its core exchange businesses. Strategic Focus on Prediction Markets and Core Growth By divesting a majority stake while maintaining minority ownership, MIAX gains continued exposure to the rapidly evolving prediction markets segment without bearing full operational responsibility. MIAX Chairman and CEO Thomas P. Gallagher said the sale unlocks shareholder value while reinforcing the group’s long-term growth strategy. He noted that the retained equity position allows MIAX to participate in MIAXdx’s future development as the market expands. MIAX emphasised that proceeds and strategic focus will be redirected toward strengthening and scaling its existing exchange platforms across multiple asset classes. Robinhood Deepens Push Into Futures and Prediction Markets For Robinhood, the acquisition accelerates its expansion into derivatives and prediction markets, an area of growing interest among both retail and institutional participants. JB Mackenzie, VP and GM of Futures and International at Robinhood, said the deal enhances the firm’s ability to deliver improved customer experiences in this emerging asset class while strengthening its regulated market infrastructure. The partnership with Susquehanna International Group brings additional market-making, liquidity, and derivatives expertise to the venture, positioning MIAXdx for broader adoption and product expansion. MIAXdx Positioned for Next Phase of Development MIAXdx operates as both an exchange and clearinghouse under CFTC oversight, enabling it to support a range of fully collateralised derivative products with integrated clearing. Under its new ownership structure, the platform is expected to benefit from Robinhood’s retail reach, Susquehanna’s trading expertise, and MIAX’s continued strategic involvement as a minority shareholder. Both parties signalled openness to future collaboration, suggesting the transaction could be the foundation for deeper technology and market structure partnerships over time. Takeaway: The sale of 90% of MIAXdx to a Robinhood–Susquehanna joint venture underscores rising momentum in prediction markets, while allowing MIAX to crystallise value, retain strategic exposure, and sharpen its focus on core exchange growth.