Group 1 - Economist Peter Schiff prefers a gold-backed cryptocurrency over Bitcoin during crises, particularly in contexts like Iran's currency crisis [2][4] - Schiff emphasizes that Bitcoin is not backed by any tangible asset, while he advocates for tokenized gold as a more reliable option [2][3] - The Iranian Rial's devaluation has led to increased interest in cryptocurrencies as a hedge, with Bitcoin being one of the options [4] Group 2 - Bitcoin's performance has been underwhelming, with a decline of 4.17% over the past year, while precious metals-backed cryptocurrencies like Tether Gold and PAX Gold have seen significant gains of over 70% [7][8] - Tether Gold is currently priced at $4,591, reflecting its strong performance compared to Bitcoin's price of $95,430.78 [8]

Crypto markets have spent the past year talking up institutional demand, but one constraint keeps resurfacing beneath the headlines: there's just not enough liquidity currently in the market to let Wall Street enter with its size and scale without destabilizing prices. Speaking ahead of Consensus Hong Kong, Jason Atkins, chief commercial officer at crypto market maker Auros, said illiquidity, not volatility, remains the industry’s biggest structural problem. "You can’t just say institutional capital wan ...

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - January 17, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of investors in cryptocurrency issued by Balancer (ticker: BAL), resulting from allegations that Balancer may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.SO WHAT: If you purchased Balancer cryptocurrency you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through ...

Stablecoins were crypto’s breakout product in 2025 to the mainstream — and in 2026, the industry is pushing to put those onchain dollars to work by turning everything from equities to money market funds to gold into tokenized, tradable building blocks on blockchain rails. After years of pilots and proof-of-concepts, tokenization now look less like a niche crypto experiment and more like a distribution upgrade for capital market, with financial giants like BlackRock, JPMorgan or BNY deeply involved. The to ...

Quick Read MSTU provides 2x leveraged exposure to MicroStrategy (MSTR) which holds over 500,000 Bitcoin. Daily resets create friction that erodes returns. MicroStrategy fell 53% over one year while MSTU collapsed 91%. Volatility decay compounds ruthlessly in choppy markets. MicroStrategy reports Q4 earnings on February 5. Quarterly earnings growth fell 77% year-over-year. A recent study identified one single habit that doubled Americans’ retirement savings and moved retirement from dream, to realit ...

Core Insights - The IRS treats crypto and digital assets as physical property for tax purposes, making transactions taxable at the federal level, while state taxation varies significantly [1] State Taxation of Crypto - Crypto gains are taxed similarly to other investment gains, with short-term capital gains applicable for holdings under a year, often at higher rates than long-term gains [2] - Approximately ten states do not tax crypto gains, while others impose substantial taxes [2] States with High Crypto Taxation - California imposes a tax rate of up to 13.3% on crypto gains, including an additional 1% for households earning over $1 million [4] - Hawaii has a tax rate of up to 11%, with unclear regulations affecting the trading environment [5] - New York taxes crypto gains at a rate of up to 10.9%, with lower rates for households earning under $1 million [6] - Minnesota's tax rate on crypto gains is up to 10.85%, including an additional 1% for high-income households [7] - New Jersey imposes a tax rate of up to 10.75% on crypto gains, treating them as regular income [8][9] - Oregon has a tax rate of up to 9.9%, also treating crypto gains as regular income [10] Record Keeping for Crypto Investors - Detailed transaction records are crucial for crypto trading in taxable accounts, with traders receiving Form 1099-DA in early 2026 to report sales proceeds [11]

XRP price continues to struggle as broader crypto market conditions deteriorate. The token has remained under pressure for several days, failing to sustain recovery attempts.  Despite persistent selling, XRP investors are actively accumulating, aiming to defend key support levels and limit downside risk. XRP Holders Change Their Stance Current market sentiment around XRP remains fragile as liquidation data highlights rising downside risk. According to the liquidation heatmap, XRP long traders face signi ...

Core Viewpoint - Robert Kiyosaki criticizes the Federal Reserve's monetary policies, claiming they disproportionately benefit the wealthy while harming the poor and middle class, leading to increased homelessness and economic hardship for the baby boomer generation [2][3][8]. Federal Reserve and Economic Impact - Kiyosaki argues that the Federal Reserve's creation in 1913 and subsequent policies, including the introduction of income tax, have led to economic issues such as inflation and homelessness [1][3]. - He claims that money printing by the Federal Reserve makes life harder for ordinary Americans, as it fuels price increases for essential goods [2][3]. Baby Boomers' Financial Vulnerability - Kiyosaki warns that baby boomers may face significant financial challenges due to inflation, potentially leading to widespread homelessness among this generation [8]. - He highlights that Social Security benefits may not keep pace with rising living costs, particularly for housing and healthcare, with projections indicating potential insolvency of the Social Security trust fund by 2035 [8]. Investment Strategies Against Inflation - Kiyosaki advocates for investing in gold as a hedge against inflation, emphasizing its stability compared to fiat currencies [10][11]. - He also supports cryptocurrencies, particularly Bitcoin and Ethereum, as alternatives that can thrive despite the Federal Reserve's policies, predicting Bitcoin could reach $250,000 by 2026 [16][17]. Real Estate as a Hedge - Kiyosaki promotes real estate investment as a powerful hedge against inflation, noting that property values and rental income typically rise during inflationary periods [19][20]. - He suggests that individuals can invest in real estate through crowdfunding platforms, making it accessible without significant capital [21][23].

Core Viewpoint - XRP is currently priced at $2, with predictions suggesting it could reach $4 in 2026, despite historical trading limitations [1][8]. Price Predictions - Consensus estimates for XRP in 2026 have significantly decreased, with the current target set at $2.20, down from previous targets exceeding $10 [2]. - Analysts expect XRP to trade sideways for most of the year, with potential short-lived rallies similar to the 2025 performance where it peaked at $3.65 before falling back to $2 [3]. Factors for Price Increase - A major paradigm shift is necessary for XRP to double in value this year, which may not be achieved solely through the launch of new spot XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs) [4]. - For XRP to gain traction, there needs to be rapid adoption of its blockchain ledger within the financial services sector, transitioning it from a niche payment technology to a fundamental tool for large financial institutions [5]. Current Use and Future Plans - Currently, XRP serves primarily as a bridge currency for cross-border payments, but Ripple has invested nearly $2.5 billion in blockchain-related acquisitions to expand its use cases [6][8]. - If Ripple's expansion plans succeed, XRP could be perceived as a high-upside fintech investment, potentially leading to a new all-time high above $4 [7].

Every year, workers around the globe send approximately $900 billion to their families back home and, when it comes to helping them send that money, the market is suddenly up for grabs. The reason is the recent momentum behind stablecoins, which offer an easy way to move money across borders—and for a far cheaper price than legacy transfer systems, whose fees can reach as high as 6%. Stablecoins, which are backed by reserves designed to peg their value to a fiat currency like the dollar, were long used b ...