Bitcoin mining electricity expenses may decline if Venezuela boosts its oil output, although Bitfinex analysts warn that the full effect could take several years to materialize.
Data centers in the U.S. added $6.5 billion to electricity prices after a PJM auction, pushing total electricity charges to $23.1 billion for June 2025‑May 2028. This makes them the fastest‑growing load on a grid that serves about 20 % of the population. The surge raises power bills for businesses and households alike. AI and cloud workloads require constant high‑performance computing, which consumes large amounts of power. Servers generate heat, demanding continuous cooling that adds further electricity use. Expanding the grid with new lines and substations to support these loads increases overall system costs. State regulators are imposing fees so tech firms cover infrastructure expenses, and FERC has ordered PJM to price data‑center usage more accurately. The aim is to allocate grid costs fairly between massive users and ordinary consumers. These measures seek to curb energy inflation while allowing the tech sector to keep growing.
The United States is reportedly preparing to freeze and seize Bitcoin held by Venezuela following Nicolás Maduro’s arrest and narco‑terrorism charges in New York. Crypto markets reacted instantly, with Bitcoin rallying past $94,000. The surge reflected trader optimism about political change and potential asset recovery. Analysts expect Maduro’s removal could unlock Venezuela’s estimated $17 trillion of untapped crude, increasing global oil flow and lowering energy prices. A price rise in Bitcoin also reclaimed its 50‑day moving average, prompting short liquidations. The outlook is viewed as disinflationary and risk‑on, opposite to last summer’s Iran‑related slump. Venezuela turned to crypto amid hyperinflation, with households mining Bitcoin and Ethereum since 2017. Official data once listed 240 BTC (~$22 million), but other estimates suggest up to 600,000 BTC—roughly $60 billion and 3 % of supply—held in shadow reserves. Crypto remains a key financial tool for the nation. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright will attend a Goldman Sachs‑hosted conference in Miami alongside executives from Chevron and ConocoPhillips. The event highlights the growing intersection of traditional energy and digital assets.
On March 21 2025 the Crypto Fear & Greed Index rose to 44, an 18‑point jump. A score of 44 stays in the “Fear” range (25‑49) but marks the highest reading since mid‑February. The metric, covering the $2.1 trillion crypto market, indicates cautious optimism amid lingering risk concerns. The index blends six factors: volatility (25 %), volume (25 %), social media (15 %), surveys (15 %), Bitcoin share (10 %) and Google Trends (10 %). Current data shows volatility 18 % above yearly average, while volume is up 22 % week‑over‑week. Social‑media sentiment turned 15 % more neutral‑to‑positive, though bearish tones still dominate. Readings under 50 often signal accumulation, so 44 hints at modest buying. Bitcoin stayed above $68 k and Ethereum upgrades eased concerns. Institutional crypto holdings rose 8 % in Q1 2025, while retail activity stays below late‑2024, showing a split between investor types.
Entering 2026, Blackrock and Strategy together command a substantial portion of the total bitcoin supply, underscoring a rapid rise in institutional ownership. Regulated ETFs and publicly listed firms are increasingly consolidating control over the world’s leading cryptocurrency. Blackrock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) ETF holds roughly 774,000 bitcoins, while Strategy Inc. (Nasdaq: MSTR) reports about 674,000 coins in its portfolio. These figures illustrate the growing dominance of a few large players in the market.
Claude AI sees XRP hitting $10 by late 2026 if its recent bullish trend holds. The coin rose 16% this week to $2.27, implying roughly 340% upside for current holders. New U.S. spot XRP ETFs are driving institutional buying, echoing early Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF waves. An RSI near 72 hints the rally may pause, but further ETF approvals could spark a breakout year. Claude projects SHIB could rise to $0.0006678, a 7,000% jump from its 2021 ATH, after breaking $0.000025 resistance. The token surged 30% this week, outpacing major cryptocurrencies. Shibarium’s Layer‑2 upgrades add real utility, strengthening its meme‑coin status. With a market cap above $5.5 bn, growth momentum appears robust. Claude predicts SOL may rally 550% to around $900, tripling its previous $293 peak in an optimistic 2026 scenario. After a Q4 2025 correction, SOL trades near $138. New Solana ETFs from Bitwise and Grayscale revive investor interest similar to early BTC/ETH ETFs. Strong developer activity, $9 bn TVL, and institutional token‑ization plans support the forecast, with moderate targets at $320–$644. Claude did not model early‑stage tokens like Maxi Doge (MAXI), which raised $4.4 m and offers up to 70% APY staking. MAXI trades at $0.0002765 in its presale and runs on an ERC‑20 contract for energy‑efficient operation. It is highlighted separately from the AI’s established crypto predictions.
Bitcoin touched $93,000 while Ethereum and Dogecoin also rose sharply. The rally follows heightened risk sentiment after U.S.–Venezuela tensions. Analysts note that risky assets are regaining momentum despite political fallout. Current prices sit near $92,400 for Bitcoin, with upward pressure continuing. Liquidity expansion is a key catalyst, as M2 reached $22.4 trillion and the Fed’s reserve‑management purchases resemble QE. Growing U.S. debt encourages investors to hedge with crypto. The New York Fed’s repo actions further inject cash into markets, supporting higher valuations. Institutional demand resurfaces, with Bitcoin ETFs logging a $471 million net inflow on Jan 2, the biggest since mid‑December. The Coinbase premium is recovering and large sell walls on Binance are weakening. Analysts expect little resistance above $95,000, opening a path toward the $100,000 psychological level.
Investors are eyeing a possible crypto bull run in 2026, especially if U.S. regulators introduce clear rules. Bitcoin trades just below $94,000, showing early rebound signs after a sideways Q4. Its declining market dominance suggests capital may shift to altcoins, creating opportunities for high‑growth tokens. XRP remains a key player in cross‑border payments, offering fast, low‑fee transfers via the XRPL. After settling its SEC case, XRP hit a seven‑year ATH of $3.65 but now sits near $2.19, down 41% from that peak. Recent launches of five spot XRP ETFs sparked a 17% weekly gain, and further regulatory clarity could drive the price toward a $10 target by year‑end. PEPE, the third‑largest meme coin, sits around $0.0000068 after a 68% weekly surge, though it remains 76% below its late‑2024 peak. BONK, Solana’s dog‑themed meme, trades near $0.0000119 with a $1 billion market cap and could multiply several times if bullish conditions return. Both tokens have strong community support and could reach new highs if the 2026 market turns positive. HYPER is a Bitcoin layer‑2 project built on the Solana Virtual Machine that promises high throughput, ultra‑low fees, and smart‑contract capabilities. The presale has raised over $30 million and analysts project potential 100× returns after exchange listing. With a recent audit confirming no contract vulnerabilities, HYPER offers staking rewards up to 39% APY and aims to launch in 2026.
Ripple attracted notice after moving over $652 million in XRP, prompting questions about whether the company is selling the token amid a rapid price surge.
Industry figures contend that insider trading on prediction markets is viewed as a “feature, not a bug,” even as lawmakers increase their scrutiny.
The PRCL token, native to Parcl, more than doubled in value after the partnership was disclosed, introducing housing price indexes to prediction markets.
Vitalik Buterin, a co‑founder of Ethereum, opened the year 2026 by describing the network’s recent progress while also highlighting the remaining challenges that impede its long‑term objectives.
Investment managers are set to boost funding for green‑technology firms this year as regulatory clarity improves and borrowing costs fall. They now face stricter criteria, demanding proof of profitability alongside carbon‑reduction claims. Policy shifts such as Trump’s decisions, AI expansion, and broader electrification continue to shape capital flows. Energy use at U.S. data centers could surge 130 % by 2030, making heat‑recovery, renewable projects and efficiency software attractive bets. Grid‑technology stocks outperformed the market in 2025, and U.S. grid investment is projected to exceed $128 bn within two years. Nuclear startups captured about 20 % of climate‑venture dollars, with both fusion and fission projects gaining investor confidence despite valuation debates. Disaster‑resilience firms also posted strong returns, beating the S‑P 500 by 6.5 % over a decade. Venture capital for alternative‑protein and cell‑culture technologies collapsed by roughly 90 % in 2025, and prospects for recovery appear slim. Agricultural‑tech segments such as automation retain modest interest, but overall sustainable‑agri buyouts fell sharply, with U.S. crop‑farm deals dropping to near zero. Investors are therefore shifting capital toward sectors with clearer profit paths and stronger policy support.
XRP is moving into a new stage, driven by growing institutional interest reflected in ETF inflows, while its price activity remains relatively quiet.
Prices continue to climb, but there is no panic.
On‑chain data shows a steady drawdown of XRP balances on crypto exchanges, pushing reserves to their lowest level in several years. CryptoQuant reports that total exchange holdings fell from roughly 2.65 billion XRP at the end of 2025 to about 1.85 billion in early 2026. This near‑800 million token outflow marks the most dramatic supply contraction in recent history. Binance, the platform with the largest XRP liquidity, mirrored the broader trend. Between 2024 and early 2025 the exchange held over 3 billion XRP, dropping to the 2 billion range by late 2025 and further to around 1.85 billion at the start of 2026. The rapid depletion underscores a shift of assets away from centralized venues. Glassnode data, highlighted by the BULLRUNNERS account, suggests overall exchange balances may be as low as 1.44 billion XRP, a steep decline from previous weeks. The reduced supply coincides with XRP price climbing above $2, currently trading near $2.15. Simultaneously, Spot XRP ETFs have recorded continuous net inflows since launch, reinforcing the bullish narrative.
XRP is moving inside a clean descending channel on the five‑day chart, indicating a controlled correction rather than distribution. Momentum appears to be cooling, but the price consolidation suggests a healthy pause. Analysts view this compression as a typical precursor to later expansion in a well‑structured market. The 21‑day EMA is the critical pivot; a weekly close above it followed by a retest would signal a shift to bullish momentum. Breaking the channel top near $2.30 could open a rally toward $3.10‑$3.30. Egrag Crypto assigns roughly a 60% chance to an upside breakout, 30% to continued ranging, and 10% to a downside drop toward $1. Traders should focus on EMA support retests and channel boundaries rather than short‑term noise. Structural confirmations help position for potential upside while limiting downside risk. This disciplined, structure‑first approach offers a clearer roadmap for the next significant move.
PwC’s latest report names Ripple as a critical financial‑services infrastructure, highlighting its growing legitimacy in the global finance ecosystem. The analysis praises Ripple’s ability to deliver real‑time settlement, cross‑border payment and liquidity‑management capabilities for banks, fintechs and payment providers. By framing Ripple beyond a digital token, PwC signals a shift toward viewing blockchain solutions as core infrastructure. RippleNet addresses the slow, costly nature of traditional cross‑border transfers by enabling fund movement in seconds with minimal fees. This speed and cost advantage gives XRP tangible utility, positioning it as a bridge between legacy finance and decentralized systems. The platform’s compliance‑focused, scalable design makes integration with existing banking infrastructure feasible. The report notes that clearer U.S. regulations are prompting PwC to expand crypto advisory services, boosting confidence among institutional clients. Endorsement from a trusted advisor like PwC could accelerate Ripple adoption by major banks and payment networks. Institutional trust and operational reliability are now key drivers of crypto integration. PwC’s validation marks a milestone for XRP, turning it from a speculative asset into a core component of modern payments. It reflects a broader industry trend where blockchain is treated as essential infrastructure rather than a niche investment. The recognition underscores Ripple’s role in creating a faster, more transparent and interconnected financial system.
Crypto spot trading volume has fallen to its lowest level since November 2023, covering both Bitcoin and altcoins. The drop signals a market operating on thin participation despite headline price gains. Analysts view the contraction as a warning sign for liquidity and market depth. Bitcoin reclaimed the $94,000 threshold, marking a strong technical rebound. However, the rally occurs alongside dwindling spot volume, suggesting it is driven by a limited group of traders. Without broad‑based buying, the price advance may lack durability. The volume slump is linked to lingering effects of the October 2024 liquidation, macro‑economic uncertainty, and a shift toward derivatives and OTC desks. Thin order books increase price volatility and raise the likelihood of sharp corrections. Market participants are therefore exercising caution. Altcoin spot volumes are similarly depressed, limiting the usual “altseason” spillover from Bitcoin’s gains. Low volume undermines confidence in sustained price growth across the crypto ecosystem. A rebound in trading activity would be needed to validate the rally and restore market stability.
Bitcoin surged above $94,000 and maintained that level after the US market opened, showing no immediate decline. In the current market climate, LIT Coin is emerging as a noteworthy opportunity for investors. The article “Bitcoin Prices Surpass $94,000 as New Trends Emerge” was originally published on COINTURK NEWS.
SOL has broken above $130 and now trades around $132‑135, staying above the 100‑hourly SMA. A bullish trend line supports the pair near $135 on the hourly chart. The price recently surpassed the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement from the $123 low to the $138 high. Momentum indicators show the MACD accelerating bullishly and RSI holding above 50. Immediate support sits at $135, with secondary levels at $130 and $128. Resistance clusters at $138‑$140, while a decisive break above $145 could open the path to $150‑$155. Failure to clear $140 may trigger a pullback toward $130, and a drop below $128 could push the price toward $120. The hourly MACD is in a bullish trajectory, and the RSI remains comfortably above the neutral 50 mark. The 100‑hourly SMA continues to act as a floor for price action. Traders watch the $135 trend line for confirmation of the uptrend and the $138‑$140 zone for the next breakout test.
Ethereum saw new address creation jump 110% in the month after the Fusaka upgrade, adding about 292,000 wallets daily. This is the fastest growth rate since the 2024 bull market. Analysts view the rise as a sign of structural adoption rather than short‑term speculation. The December 3 Fusaka (Fulu‑Osaka) upgrade introduced Peer Data Availability Sampling, cutting the cost of posting data to Ethereum. Lower Layer‑2 expenses improve scalability and make DeFi, gaming, and consumer apps cheaper to use. The upgrade’s efficiency boost directly correlates with the accelerated address‑creation trend. Historically, rising wallet numbers precede higher transaction volume and deeper liquidity. Fusaka deployed without chain instability, easing institutional concerns about roadmap risk. The smooth rollout underscores that infrastructure upgrades are driving renewed network participation. ETH has reclaimed the $3,200 level as on‑chain fundamentals improve, but a large cohort of holders from mid‑2025 sits near break‑even, posing potential sell pressure. Market watchers will assess whether the address surge translates into sustained transaction demand and stable fees in Q1 2026. Continued organic growth would confirm the upgrade’s long‑term impact.
Recent metrics indicate the stablecoin sector lost $773 million within the last week. Since December 13, fiat‑pegged tokens have experienced a cumulative decline of $2.5 billion, reflecting a notable pullback in the stablecoin economy. Over the past seven days, broader cryptocurrency markets rebounded, pushing total market value above the $3 trillion threshold. Despite this overall surge, stablecoins continued to weaken, showing a clear divergence from the broader crypto rally.
The United States' capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro pushed oil prices to their lowest point in four years, yet cryptocurrency markets have remained steady.
