Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse said crypto will reach new all-time highs by 2026, according to recent comments. XRP reacted the way it usually does to regulatory optimism, jumping roughly 8–10% after confirmations that the SEC would drop its appeal. The bigger backdrop matters more: crypto prices tend to rise when legal fog clears and capital feels safe to return. This is not just about one token. It speaks to a broader shift as U.S. regulators step back from enforcement-first tactics and large players sta ...

Iran reportedly built up more than $500 million in USDT, according to blockchain-tracking firm Elliptic. This happened while Bitcoin remained near recent highs and the total supply of stablecoins barely changed, suggesting traders are still using dollar-pegged tokens as a place to park money rather than as a trading asset. At the same time, governments and regulators are paying closer attention to stablecoins as part of global finance, not just another corner of crypto. USDT, also known as Tether, closel ...

Group 1: Market Outlook - Cryptocurrency markets are expected to reach all-time highs this year, according to Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse [2][3] - Bitcoin achieved an all-time high of approximately $126,000 in October and was trading around $89,000 recently [2][3] Group 2: Regulatory Developments - The GENIUS Act, passed in June, has established regulatory frameworks for the cryptocurrency industry, including full reserve backing and monthly audits [5][7] - The SEC dropped a four-year lawsuit against Ripple, which had cost the company $150 million, allowing Ripple to emerge victorious on key legal issues [4] Group 3: Industry Sentiment - Garlinghouse expressed optimism about major financial institutions showing interest in cryptocurrencies, indicating a significant shift in the market [5] - XRP, Ripple's payment token, has become a prominent player in the recent crypto rally, trading at about $1.90 [5] Group 4: Future Projections - Analysts from Standard Chartered predict XRP could reach $8 by 2026 and $12.50 by 2028, although Garlinghouse refrained from commenting on these projections [6] - Garlinghouse anticipates that cryptocurrencies will experience substantial growth over the next decade, with significant use cases emerging [7][8]

Group 1: Legislative Developments - The Senate Banking Committee canceled a meeting intended to draft a bill for cryptocurrency and digital asset regulations, marking a setback for long-awaited legislation [1][2] - Senator Cynthia Lummis expressed disappointment over the cancellation, indicating it was a significant blow to cryptocurrency advocacy [2] - Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong criticized the current draft of the legislation, stating it would be detrimental to the 52 million Americans who use cryptocurrency [4][5] Group 2: Industry Concerns - There is a conflict between cryptocurrency advocates and traditional banking institutions, particularly regarding stablecoins, which banks fear could undermine their business [6] - The GENIUS Act, signed into law last year, established regulations for stablecoins, allowing holders to earn rewards, which some in the banking industry want to repeal [6][8] - Senator Bernie Moreno highlighted the need for consensus between traditional banking and the innovation community to avoid stagnation [9] Group 3: Political Implications - The crypto lobby played a significant role in the election of Senator Moreno, who defeated a long-standing opponent, indicating the growing influence of cryptocurrency in politics [10] - The delay in legislation could result in the U.S. falling behind in the global cryptocurrency market, which could have negative implications for the economy and national security [15] - Representative William Timmons emphasized that establishing a solid regulatory framework for cryptocurrency could bring tens of billions of dollars back to the U.S. [17] Group 4: Future Outlook - The cancellation of the committee meeting resets the timeline for cryptocurrency legislation, with Senator Lummis noting she has additional time to improve the bill [12] - Concerns were raised that without timely action, the U.S. could lose its position as a leader in the cryptocurrency market [15][23] - The New York Stock Exchange announced plans to launch a platform for trading tokenized securities, indicating a shift towards integrating cryptocurrency into traditional finance [22]

Core Insights - The cryptocurrency industry is facing regulatory challenges that have dampened market enthusiasm, particularly following the stalling of the Clarity Act, which aims to establish a regulatory framework for the sector [1][4]. Regulatory Developments - The Clarity Act, an extensive 300-page bill, was set for a Senate Banking Committee markup but was postponed after Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong withdrew support due to concerns over provisions that could jeopardize certain products [2][8]. - Lawmakers are also discussing an ethics issue that would prevent senior government officials from profiting from cryptocurrency, which has added complexity to the regulatory landscape [2][8]. Market Reactions - Following the news of the bill's postponement, shares of major crypto companies like Coinbase, Circle, and Bullish experienced declines, although there was some recovery later in the week [3][8]. - Bitcoin and other altcoins, including Ethereum and Solana, also saw a reversal of earlier gains but have begun to trend upward again [3]. Stakeholder Concerns - Armstrong expressed that a poorly constructed bill would be worse than having no bill at all, highlighting issues such as a potential ban on tokenized equities and restrictions on rewards for stablecoins [5][6]. - The GENIUS Act, which was passed last year, has already limited the ability of stablecoin issuers to offer yields, and the draft of the Clarity Act could further restrict rewards that resemble savings accounts [6]. Future Outlook - Some industry leaders are skeptical about the bill's chances of passing this year, especially with upcoming elections that may shift focus away from regulatory discussions [9]. - However, others believe the bill is not entirely dead, with Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott describing the delay as a "brief pause" and affirming ongoing discussions among stakeholders [9].

Core Insights - US spot Bitcoin ETFs have seen significant inflows of $1.7 billion over the last three days, marking a reversal from earlier outflows of $681 million in the first week of the year [1][5] - On January 15, 2026, inflows peaked at $843.6 million, with BlackRock's IBIT leading the charge with $648 million [2] - Bitcoin's price surged briefly above $97,000, recovering from recent lows of $88,000, coinciding with discussions around a US crypto regulatory bill [3][4] Group 1: Inflows and Market Dynamics - The inflows into Bitcoin ETFs have been substantial, with $843.6 million on January 15, $754 million on January 14, and over $100 million on January 13 [1] - BlackRock's IBIT ETF accounted for a significant portion of the inflows, followed by Fidelity's Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund and others [2] - The inflow activity has contributed to a brief surge in Bitcoin's price, indicating a strong recovery and investor confidence [3][4] Group 2: Market Sentiment and Economic Context - The Crypto Fear and Greed Index reached a "greed" level of 61, reflecting positive market sentiment [4] - Analysts suggest that macroeconomic conditions are favorable for Bitcoin, with the S&P 500 at new highs and easing inflation pressures [5] - Despite volatility, the overall market environment appears supportive for risk assets, including Bitcoin [5]

Senate Banking Committee Chair Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) said late Wednesday that the committee is delaying the markup of cryptocurrency market structure legislation amid opposition from industry figures.‘Brief Pause’ To Establish ConsensusScott said in a statement that the committee is taking a “brief pause” before moving to markup and that all stakeholders involved are “working in good faith.”David Sacks, the White House Crypto Czar, said that the passage of the market structure legislation is “as close as ...

Cryptocurrency Market Overview - Bitcoin experienced a rally, reaching a 2-month high of $97,860, with gains exceeding 10% for the year, influenced by geopolitical tensions and an upcoming vote on a cryptocurrency bill [3] - The global cryptocurrency market capitalization increased by 0.75% to $3.28 trillion [6] - Bitcoin's open interest rose by 2.76%, indicating increased speculative activity [5] Price Movements - Bitcoin (BTC) rose by 1.23% to $96,617.34, while Ethereum (ETH) fell by 0.11% to $3,330.89, XRP decreased by 1.89% to $2.12, and Dogecoin (DOGE) dropped by 1.84% to $0.1455 [2] - Notable gainers included Dash (+42.65%), Pirate Chain (+39.17%), and Internet Computer (+34.47%) [6] Market Sentiment - The market sentiment shifted from "Neutral" to "Greed," as indicated by the Crypto Fear & Greed Index [5] - Over $380 million was liquidated from the cryptocurrency market in the last 24 hours, primarily due to short liquidations [4] Stock and Oil Market Performance - The stock market saw declines, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 0.09%, S&P 500 down 0.53%, and Nasdaq Composite down 1% [7] - Oil prices fell by 2% to $60.66 per barrel amid geopolitical developments [7] Future Projections for Bitcoin - Analysts suggest that Bitcoin may face strong resistance above the $100,000 level, with potential upward movement towards $120,000–130,000 if that ceiling is breached [8] - The upward trend in Bitcoin's price is noted, with expectations of hitting $100,000 within the week [8]

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said his company would not support the latest version of crypto market structure legislation in the US Senate, saying it gave too much power to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other issues Armstrong cited include the bill’s “defacto ban on tokenised equities,” “DeFi prohibitions,” and proposed amendments that would further restrict companies’ ability to pay “rewards” on users’ stablecoin holdings. “We appreciate all the hard work by members of the Senate to reach a b ...

Group 1 - Bitcoin has risen over 4% in the past 24 hours, surpassing $97,000, a level not seen since mid-November, following a stable inflation report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics [1] - Crypto-linked stocks, such as Coinbase (COIN) and Strategy (MSTR), have increased by almost 3% and more than 6% respectively, indicating a positive market sentiment [2] - The potential for lower interest rates this year, as suggested by the inflation report, is viewed as favorable for risk assets like Bitcoin, which may lead to further price increases [4] Group 2 - The possibility of passing the Clarity Act, which would create a regulatory framework for digital assets, is contributing to positive sentiment among crypto investors, although its advancement is uncertain due to postponed Senate discussions [5][6] - Smaller stocks, such as High Roller Technologies (ROLR), are experiencing significant gains, attributed to renewed optimism in the crypto market and partnerships with crypto platforms like Crypto.com [7] - Experts believe that stable inflation and ongoing regulatory developments are supporting the rise in digital asset prices [8]