The sponsor states that on January 6 2026, in Victoria, Seychelles, Bitget—identified as the world’s largest Universal Exchange (UEX)—has opened its TradFi trading suite to all users. Following a private beta that attracted overwhelming interest and produced notable trading activity in gold, forex, and global‑macro assets, the public launch represents a pivotal milestone.
Whale purchases are propelling LIT higher. Both RSI and RVGI indicators confirm strong upward momentum. The market is now targeting the $3.5‑$4 resistance range.
XRP has moved from years of consolidation into a new expansion cycle. Recent price action shows a breakout from a seven‑year double‑bottom pattern, confirming that long‑term sell pressure has faded. Analysts Amonyx and Gert van Lagen point to the weekly chart where the price crossed the neckline, indicating buyer control. The prolonged base stored energy likely to fuel a strong directional move. Higher‑timeframe momentum indicators have turned positive, supporting the breakout as genuine rather than a false rally. Price has stayed above former resistance without retesting lower levels, a sign of market conviction. Amonyx notes that the market’s behavior reflects confidence and sustained upward pressure. Van Lagen compares the current pattern to the 2014‑2017 cycle, using Fibonacci extensions to project a target around $34. The projection relies on macro‑cycle symmetry, not short‑term hype. With the seven‑year base completed, XRP could enter its most significant growth phase in years if momentum holds, though short‑term volatility remains possible.
Bitcoin Core has advised users running versions 30.0 and 30.1 to refrain from migrating legacy wallets, as a discovered bug may erase all files in a wallet directory if the migration fails.
Bubblemaps publicly disputed the claim that WorldLibertyFinancial (WLFI) or its co‑founder Steve Witkoff funded a $400,000 Polymarket win on a Maduro arrest bet. Their analysis found no unique transaction timing or flow patterns tying the wallet to WLFI. Thousands of addresses could exhibit similar behavior, making definitive attribution impossible. An anonymous Polymarket account earned about $400,000 by correctly betting on the imminent arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Analyst Andrew 10GWEI suggested a link to WLFI based on on‑chain observations. After Bubblemaps’ detailed rebuttal, he acknowledged the hypothesis was speculative, not conclusive. Blockchain analytics face core challenges: addresses are pseudonymous, mixers obscure trails, and coincident timing can occur across many users. Correlation does not equal causation, and reliable conclusions need off‑chain data and multiple evidence sources. Proper methodology is essential to avoid misleading conclusions. The episode underscores how unfounded insider‑trading claims can damage trust in decentralized prediction platforms like Polymarket. Independent firms such as Bubblemaps act as watchdogs, promoting rigorous, evidence‑based discourse. Their role is vital for maintaining market integrity and broader crypto credibility.
XRP has become one of the strongest performers in the crypto market today, registering the largest 24‑hour gain among the top ten cryptocurrencies. Traders are searching for a catalyst behind the sudden surge, and Ripple’s former CTO has joined the conversation with light‑hearted remarks. Visit Website
Bitcoin climbed to a three‑week high of $93,293, extending its weekly gain to over 6%. In the last 24 hours more than $186 million of Bitcoin short positions were liquidated. Ethereum and XRP shorts saw far smaller liquidations, about $75 million and $31 million respectively. The breakout suggests continued bullish momentum for the leading crypto. Tom Lee, BitMine Immersion Technologies chairman, told CNBC Bitcoin could set a new all‑time high by January’s end and may exceed $200 k before 2025. He warned the first half of 2026 could be tough, but expects a strong rally in the second half. Bill Miller of Miller Value Partners echoed this, saying Bitcoin is likely to surpass its previous $126 k peak. Both analysts see ample short‑term upside for Bitcoin and other digital assets. Silver added another 4% in the past day, up over 33% on the month amid macro‑economic turbulence. Peter Schiff called this the early phase of what could become the biggest precious‑metals bull market ever. He criticized mainstream media for focusing on Bitcoin while ignoring silver’s surge. The metal’s strong performance underscores broader investor interest in hard assets.
Binance added the FET/JPY and TAO/JPY trading pairs on 9 January 2026. A zero‑fee campaign for market makers is active until 9 February 2026. The news appeared on COINTURK NEWS under the headline “Binance Expands Trading Options with New FET and TAO JPY Pairs.”
Binance will launch FET/JPY and TAO/JPY spot pairs at 8:00 a.m. UTC on 9 January 2025. The tokens—Fetch.ai (FET) and Bittensor (TAO)—are AI‑focused blockchain assets. Direct yen trading removes the need for BTC or USDT conversion, giving Japanese investors pure fiat access. The addition fits Binance’s broader Asian market expansion. Binance Japan K.K. is fully registered with the Japanese Financial Services Agency, meeting the country’s strict digital‑asset rules. This compliance provides Japanese users with greater security than offshore platforms and attracts institutional interest. Binance adds pairs only after confirming market demand through data‑driven analysis. Eliminating conversion steps reduces fees and should increase volume and liquidity for FET and TAO. Initial volatility is typical, but stabilization is expected within two weeks, with peak activity during Japan’s business hours. International traders should watch liquidity shifts across time zones; standard Binance spot fees apply.
Analyst CW notes that XRP has broken out from its long‑term bottom, indicating the start of a Phase 4 rally. This phase represents acceleration, where price exits consolidation into sustained growth. The breakout aligns with key technical levels that suggest renewed bullish momentum. If the pattern holds, CW projects an upside target near $21.5. XRP’s price action mirrors past cycles that featured tight compression followed by sharp vertical moves. Recent trading saw volume jump to $23 million in a single minute, confirming increasing market participation. Rising volume and a strengthening market structure point to an emerging uptrend. Such breakouts often attract both retail and institutional traders seeking early positions. Broader factors reinforce the technical case: growing institutional adoption, clearer regulations, and expanding real‑world use for cross‑border payments. XRP’s 24‑hour volume has risen to $11.36 billion as price reached $2.38, indicating strong confidence. The $21.5 target derives from measured‑move projections within the Phase 4 framework, not pure speculation. Continued momentum could make this rally a defining chapter in XRP’s market cycle.
During the first week of 2026, institutional investors bought more Bitcoin than miners added to the supply. This disparity reflects a classic bullish signal for Bitcoin’s price, indicating the pattern is re‑emerging.
Gate Technology FZE (Gate Dubai) launched on Jan 6 2026, platform live at https://www.gate.com/en-dubai. It holds a VASP licence from Dubai’s VARA, allowing virtual‑asset exchange for institutional, qualified and retail investors. The launch advances Gate Group’s global compliance strategy. Gate Dubai starts with spot trading of major digital assets. Leveraging Group expertise in liquidity and matching, it promises fast, reliable trades. Fiat‑to‑crypto and crypto‑to‑fiat conversions are supported to meet regional needs. A fully localized platform, local team and support system have been deployed. Gate Dubai will nurture the Dubai crypto ecosystem via partnerships, education and knowledge sharing. These actions aim to build trust and long‑term market engagement. Founded in 2013, Gate Group serves over 47 million users and ranks among the top three global exchanges. It maintains security, transparency and 100 % proof of reserves across regulated jurisdictions including Malta, the Bahamas, Japan, Australia and Dubai. Ongoing compliance and ecosystem investments reinforce its role as a leading industry player.
Since mid‑December, whales have amassed over $5.3 billion in Bitcoin. Meanwhile, retail traders have been cashing out their gains. This mix of large‑scale buying and retail profit‑taking has produced bullish market conditions.
KuCoin’s “Into the Cryptoverse: Australia 2025” report shows Australian crypto use moving from speculation to practical finance. Around 22% of adults now hold digital assets, indicating a mature user base. The survey of active investors, traders and builders was conducted at a major industry event in November 2025. Bank transfers are the leading on‑ramp, chosen by 52.4% of respondents, while cards account for 40.1%. Direct crypto deposits, digital wallets and P2P methods trail behind, reflecting a strong demand for familiar fiat channels. Easy access to local bank and card infrastructure remains the key factor in exchange selection. KuCoin offers instant AUD deposits and withdrawals, linking local bank accounts directly to its platform. It has secured AUSTRAC DCE registration, opened a Sydney headquarters, and emphasizes regulatory compliance and transparency. These moves aim to attract both newcomers and experienced traders. Working‑age professionals with long‑term horizons form the core community, with spot trading as the base and everyday payments rising. Trusted, compliant platforms and seamless fiat services are viewed as pillars of sustainable growth. KuCoin’s continued local investment positions it to lead this emerging phase.
Sui held its upward trend despite a $65.1 million token unlock of 43.69 M SUI on Jan 1 2025. Instead of the expected sell‑off, the token rose 16 % to $1.95 within 24 hours. Analysts cite strong underlying demand offsetting the new supply. The Mysticeti v2 consensus engine, launched Nov 2025, gave Sui a steady 886 TPS throughput. Higher finality and lower latency attracted developers and raised on‑chain activity. This performance positions Sui among top high‑speed Layer‑1 blockchains. Asset managers Bitwise and Canary Capital have filed spot SUI ETF applications, signaling confidence from traditional finance. ETF approval would open regulated capital to the ecosystem. Institutional interest reinforces Sui’s long‑term credibility. Sui’s roadmap includes protocol‑level privacy features slated for Q1 2025, expanding use cases in DeFi, gaming and enterprise. The recent price behavior shows that solid tech upgrades can outweigh token‑unlock pressure. It offers a blueprint for other projects focused on utility over hype.
XRP broke above $2.20 and is now trading near $2.35, staying above the 100‑hour SMA. A bullish trend line with support at $2.1650 is visible on the hourly chart from Kraken. The price consolidated after a high of $2.416, remaining above the 23.6 % Fibonacci retracement of the swing from $2.11 to $2.416. Momentum indicators point to continued bullishness. If XRP holds above $2.40, the next resistance lies around $2.42, followed by $2.45 and $2.50 levels. A clear break above $2.45 could open the path toward $2.55 and later $2.65. Each resistance zone aligns with prior swing highs and Fibonacci extensions. Traders are watching these thresholds for further rally confirmation. Failure to breach $2.42 may trigger a pullback toward the $2.35 support zone. A break below $2.26 could push the pair toward $2.20 and further to $2.02 if $2.1650 also falls. The hourly MACD is accelerating in bullish territory while the RSI stays above 50, supporting the current bullish bias. Nevertheless, watch for a decisive close below $2.26 as a warning sign.
On Jan 5 2025 U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded a net inflow of $694.7 million, the second straight day of positive flows. The surge underscores strong institutional confidence in regulated crypto exposure. BlackRock and Fidelity captured the bulk of the capital, signaling market leadership. BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust added $371.9 million, while Fidelity’s Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund drew $191.2 million, together accounting for over 80% of the total. Smaller but notable contributions came from Bitwise ($38.5 million), Ark Invest ($36.0 million), Invesco Galaxy ($15.0 million) and others, showing tiered interest across providers. Analysts view consecutive large inflows as a sign of maturing demand that outweighs short‑term profit taking. The flow translates into actual Bitcoin purchases by ETF issuers, providing a stabilizing demand source for the cryptocurrency. Continued growth could cement spot Bitcoin ETFs as a mainstream portfolio component.
On Jan 5 2025 U.S. spot Ethereum ETFs recorded a net inflow of $165.45 million, the second consecutive day of positive flows. The data, from analyst Trader T, indicates growing confidence among large investors. Consecutive inflows are viewed as a stronger trend signal than isolated spikes. BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust contributed over $100 million, driving most of the total. Grayscale Mini ETH Trust added $22.34 million, Fidelity $21.83 million and Bitwise $19.73 million. The legacy Grayscale Ethereum Trust saw only $1.32 million, highlighting a shift toward lower‑fee structures. Analysts cite a stabilising macro outlook, Ethereum’s proof‑of‑stake upgrades, and the precedent set by spot Bitcoin ETFs. The inflows raise ETF assets under management, forcing issuers to buy physical ETH and creating buy‑side pressure on the cryptocurrency. This links traditional finance capital directly to ETH liquidity and price discovery. SEC‑approved structures hold actual ether in cold storage, satisfying institutional compliance needs. Participation by firms like BlackRock and Fidelity adds credibility, encouraging pensions and endowments to allocate to crypto. Continued inflows are expected to deepen market stability and bridge decentralized finance with mainstream investing.
Investors are seeing growing confidence that an early altseason could arrive in 2026, despite a difficult 2025 for altcoins. The optimism covers both established tokens and previously struggling memecoins. Bull Theory analysts argue that market fundamentals now favor a breakout. Altcoin rallies historically follow Bitcoin bottoms and subsequent breakouts. In Q4 2016 the ALT/BTC ratio hit a low before the 2017 rally, and a similar dip in late 2020 preceded gains in early 2021. These cycles consistently show a bottom‑then‑breakout sequence that lets altcoins outperform BTC. The ALT/BTC ratio has been in a four‑year decline but is showing reversal signs: RSI is at a historic oversold level and MACD turned green after 21 months, hinting at a bullish crossover. The Russell 2000 index recently topped its prior high, echoing risk‑on triggers that preceded past altcoin surges. This alignment suggests the bottom may have formed in Q4 2025. Liquidity is easing, the Fed’s balance‑sheet contraction has slowed, and regulatory clarity is expected in 2026, all supporting the upcoming altseason. ETH trades around $3,200, up about 10% weekly, while XRP outperformed with a 21% weekly gain. Analysts conclude the ALT/BTC bottom, Russell breakout, and better market conditions point to a near‑term rally.
Starting Jan 5, advisers at Bank of America Private Bank, Merrill and Merrill Edge can recommend crypto exchange‑traded products. The bank removed asset thresholds, shifting advisors from execution‑only to active allocation guidance. Chris Hyzy suggested a modest 1‑4% allocation for investors comfortable with higher volatility. Even a small, long‑term exposure across BofA’s wealth network could impact crypto prices. On Jan 7 Ethereum will launch the second Blob Parameter Only upgrade (BPO2), raising per‑block blob targets to 14 and 21. This config‑only change expands roll‑up data capacity without a hard fork. Increased blob supply may lower blob fees, reducing costs passed to L2 users, though relief depends on demand keeping pace with supply. Stability validation remains essential as targets grow. Hyperliquid’s HYPE token will unlock 1.2 million tokens on Jan 6, valued at about $31 million, while core contributors hold rights to roughly 237 million tokens. The release could create sell pressure, but actual impact hinges on holder behavior. Stellar is upgrading its testnet to Protocol 25 “X‑Ray” on Jan 7, adding zero‑knowledge privacy tools while preserving transparency. Developers must update SDKs before the testnet launch. Geopolitical events, such as the capture of Venezuela’s president, lifted Bitcoin while oil markets steadied. US political speculation about the Fed Chair successor adds volatility to rate expectations. Crypto desks see the upcoming US market open and potential nomination date as key risk markers. At press time the total crypto market cap was $3.12 trillion.
Tim Draper, the renowned venture capitalist and founder of Draper Associates, believes Bitcoin will become the primary currency in an AI‑driven global economy. He predicts the cryptocurrency will underpin robot automation, digital labor, and decentralized commerce. In this future, both machines and people will transact beyond traditional government‑issued money. Draper says Bitcoin’s role as the standard money for robot automation will reshape value exchange across networks. A decentralized token will enable seamless transactions between humans and autonomous systems. This shift could reduce reliance on fiat currencies in favor of a borderless digital medium.
Taiwanese prosecutors have filed fresh indictments against Tokyo Electron Taiwan and three individuals for allegedly stealing TSMC trade secrets. The accused include two former TSMC engineers, both surnamed Chen, and a former Tokyo Electron Taiwan employee, Lu. The case expands earlier charges that linked the firm to violations of the National Security Act and the Trade Secrets Act. Authorities are seeking prison terms of seven years for the first Chen, eight years and eight months for the second Chen, and one year for Lu, who is also accused of destroying evidence. An additional fine of T$25 million is requested for Tokyo Electron Taiwan, on top of a prior request for up to T$120 million. Investigators discovered cloud storage tied to the company still held TSMC secret data, prompting the new charges. Tokyo Electron affirmed that its parent company was not indicted and that the case does not affect its financial results. TSMC issued a brief statement saying the supplementary indictment stems from continued investigation of its August 2025 trade‑secret lawsuit and offered no further details. Nvidia has approached TSMC to boost production of H200 AI chips, citing Chinese orders exceeding two million units for 2026, far above its current inventory of 700,000. Prices for the chips to Chinese buyers are set around $27,000 each, intensifying global supply pressure. Goldman Sachs raised its TSMC price target to NT$2,330 and maintains a buy rating.
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.
