Core Insights - The article highlights three altcoins that investors should monitor in the second week of January, focusing on their upcoming network upgrades and potential price movements. Group 1: Mantle (MNT) - Mantle is set to undergo its first major network upgrade of the year, which will support Ethereum's Fusaka upgrade, potentially enhancing utility and scalability [2] - The current trading price of MNT is approximately $0.99, with a need to breach $1.04 to recover from recent losses of about 14% and to signal bullish momentum towards $1.11 [3] - If market confidence weakens, MNT may struggle at $1.04 and could revert to its all-time low near $0.94, undermining the bullish outlook [4] Group 2: MANTRA (OM) - OM is trading near $0.078 as it prepares for a significant network transition, requiring users to migrate ERC20 OM to MANTRA Chain by January 15, 2026 [5] - This migration aims to establish a single canonical token on the MANTRA Chain, which could act as a short-term catalyst by reducing fragmentation and enhancing network clarity [6] - If buying interest wanes, OM could drop below $0.077, with a sustained breakdown potentially leading to a deeper pullback towards $0.072, challenging the bullish thesis [7] Group 3: Polygon (POL) - Polygon has gained attention as it was selected by Wyoming's Stable Token Commission to host the state's first stablecoin, enhancing its visibility and institutional credibility [8] - This development has renewed investor interest in POL, positioning it as a significant beneficiary of real-world blockchain adoption [8]

Core Insights - Animoca Brands has entered into a non-binding agreement with Currenc Group for a reverse merger, targeting a valuation of approximately $1 billion, expected to close by the end of 2026 [1] - The merger will allow Animoca shareholders to own about 95% of the combined entity, while Currenc shareholders will retain around 5% [1] Company Overview - Animoca Brands is returning to public markets after its 2020 delisting from the Australian Securities Exchange due to governance issues and its involvement in crypto activities [2] - The company reported $314 million in revenue for 2024, a 12% increase from the previous year, with $165 million generated from its digital asset advisory business and investments in over 600 Web3 companies [2] Merger Details - Both parties have agreed to a three-month exclusivity period to finalize terms after signing a letter of intent, requiring regulatory approvals in the US and Australia [3] - The transaction also needs approval from shareholders and court authorization in Australia before proceeding [3] Strategic Implications - Currenc plans to spin off some operations as part of the merger, providing Animoca with a Cayman Islands-incorporated holding company, enhancing liquidity and access to institutional investors [4] - The merger is described as a "transformative milestone" aimed at unlocking significant shareholder value [4] Market Innovations - Republic announced plans to tokenize Animoca shares on the Solana blockchain, allowing global investors access through digital tokens, reflecting growing interest in tokenized real-world assets [5] - Animoca researchers project that tokenization could unlock a $400 trillion market in traditional finance [5] Investment Strategy - Animoca's investment strategy focuses on a "levered bet on altcoins," with a portfolio primarily consisting of tokens from early-stage startups [6] - The company has a dedicated trading team to generate yield from these holdings, although altcoin performance lagged behind Bitcoin in 2024, particularly during October's market crash [6]

Market Overview - The crypto market experienced a slight pullback, with Bitcoin dropping from an all-time high of $126,000 to around $121,200, stabilizing near $121,553, leading to over $659 million in liquidations across long and short positions [1] - Ethereum also saw a decline of over 5%, trading below $4,500, while the overall crypto market capitalization decreased by more than 3% in the past day [1] Altcoin Performance - Despite the overall market decline, some altcoins performed well, with one notable coin increasing by 8.8% to $1,356, now trading at $1,306 [1] - BNB Chain's decentralized exchange (DEX) trading volume surged to $6.05 billion on October 7, driven by meme coin activity, particularly PancakeSwap, which handled nearly $4.29 billion in 24-hour volume [2] - BSC-based projects gained attention as Solana meme coins struggled, with coins like PALU, BROCCOLI, CAT, and GIGGLE posting double-digit gains [3] Investment Opportunities - The current market dip may present opportunities for investors looking for the best altcoins to buy before the next upward movement [4]