Core Insights - Ethereum's staking landscape has experienced a significant shift due to institutional investments, particularly from BitMine and new ETFs, leading to a bottleneck in the network [1][2] - The influx of institutional capital has resulted in a record-high entry queue of 1.7 million ETH, the highest since 2023, despite low staking yields [2][3] - The introduction of regulated US financial products, such as the Grayscale Ethereum Staking ETF and 21Shares' TETH ETF, has successfully passed protocol-level earnings to shareholders [3] Institutional Investment - BitMine has allocated over 1 million ETH (approximately $3.2 billion) into Ethereum's proof-of-stake system, representing about 25% of its total corporate treasury [2] - The arrival of regulated financial products has contributed to the institutional momentum in Ethereum staking, even as staking rewards have decreased [3] Staking Yields - The annual percentage rate (APR) for Ethereum staking reached an all-time low of 2.54% earlier this year but has slightly recovered to 2.85% [4] - Over the past year, the average APR for Ethereum staking was above 3.0%, indicating a willingness among investors to stake despite lower returns [5] Market Concentration - Staking control remains concentrated among a few entities, with Lido DAO holding 24% of all staked Ether, followed by Binance at 9.15% and Ether.fi at 6.3% [6] - Coinbase, the largest US-based crypto trading platform, controls 5.08% of the staked Ether [6] - Approximately 27% of the network's total stake is controlled by untagged entities, highlighting the presence of anonymous actors in the staking ecosystem [7]

Core Viewpoint - World Liberty Financial, backed by President Donald Trump, has applied for a U.S. national banking license to issue and custody its dollar-pegged stablecoin, World Liberty Financial USD (USD1) [1][2]. Group 1: Company Developments - The subsidiary WLTC Holdings LLC has applied to establish World Liberty Trust Company, National Association, aimed at stablecoin operations [2]. - The proposed trust company will cater to institutional clients, including cryptocurrency exchanges and investment firms, and will manage the issuance and redemption of USD1, valued at $2.8 billion [3]. - The trust will also offer digital asset custody and stablecoin conversion services, allowing holders of other stablecoins to convert them into USD1 [3]. Group 2: Regulatory Compliance - World Liberty Financial stated that the trust bank will comply with the GENIUS Act and anti-money laundering laws [4]. Group 3: Family Involvement and Controversy - The Trump family has significant investments in World Liberty Financial, with nearly 22.5 billion tokens owned, valued at approximately $3.84 billion at the current price of $0.1709 per token [5][6]. - The family's involvement in the cryptocurrency sector has faced criticism, with Senator Elizabeth Warren labeling their financial gains from the WLFI token as "plain and simple" corruption [6].

Tether has partnered with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to strengthen cybersecurity and combat digital asset fraud across Africa, Papua New Guinea, and other vulnerable regions. The collaboration, announced on Friday, will fund victim protection programs, youth education initiatives, and blockchain-based solutions to reduce exploitation and build community resilience against organized crime. According to Chainalysis, Africa has emerged as the third-fastest-growing crypto region with over ...

Group 1 - Investors injected over $1.5 billion into Bitcoin and Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs) at the beginning of 2026, but subsequently withdrew $1.3 billion from Bitcoin funds and $351 million from Ethereum funds [1][2] - Bitcoin was priced at nearly $90,623, reflecting a 1% increase over the past week, while Ethereum remained stable at $3,093, having peaked at $3,293 mid-week [2] - The ETF redemptions followed a positive start to the year, contrasting with the negative flows that characterized the end of 2025, which saw a significant liquidation event of over $19 billion in leveraged positions [2][3] Group 2 - Despite reaching new highs in 2025 due to pro-crypto legislation, both Bitcoin and Ethereum are currently trading below their record levels [3] - The debasement trade, a strategy to hedge against weakening currencies, is expected to remain relevant in 2026, with investors focusing on Bitcoin, gold, and other precious metals as part of a long-term strategy [3][4] - The approval of crypto ETFs by the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2024 has made it easier for U.S. investors to gain exposure to cryptocurrencies through major asset managers like BlackRock, Fidelity, and Grayscale [4]

Core Insights - The crypto dealmaking in 2026 is projected to exceed the record $37 billion in transactions from 2025, with expectations of increased activity driven by regulatory clarity and market conditions [1][3]. Group 1: Market Performance - Publicly disclosed crypto M&A transactions surged over sevenfold in 2025, reaching $37 billion, significantly surpassing the anticipated $30 billion [3]. - The total deal volume in 2025 increased by 74% year-on-year, totaling 356 transactions, with 39 deals exceeding $100 million and 17 surpassing $500 million [3]. - The overall crypto market achieved a new all-time high of $4.3 trillion in October 2025, contributing to the surge in M&A activity [4]. Group 2: Investment Trends - Traditional financial institutions are particularly interested in the stablecoins and payments sectors within the crypto space [2]. - Venture capital investments in crypto projects doubled to over $20 billion in 2025 compared to 2024, indicating a robust interest in the sector [4]. Group 3: Future Expectations - M&A activity is expected to remain robust even in risk-off scenarios, as major exchanges and infrastructure players possess strong balance sheets and significant M&A potential [5]. - A shift towards "bridge" M&A transactions is anticipated, where traditional firms acquire crypto capabilities instead of developing them internally [5]. - Deal terms are expected to become more risk-managed, with buyers favoring cautious structures and payment profiles [6].

Ripple will expand its payments business in the UK after securing key approvals from the country’s top financial regulator. The company behind the XRP cryptocurrency said on Friday it had secured an Electronic Money Institution licence and Cryptoasset Registration from the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority. “These permissions allow Ripple to expand its licenced payments platform, giving UK institutions the ability to send cross-border payments,” the company said in a news release. London has long been h ...

Core Viewpoint - Matador Technologies Inc. has granted 631,818 restricted share units (RSUs) to certain officers and consultants as part of its Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan, with a 12-month vesting period starting January 8, 2026 [1] Group 1 - The total number of RSUs granted is 631,818 [1] - The RSUs are part of the company's Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan [1] - The vesting period for the RSUs is set for 12 months, beginning on January 8, 2026 [1]

During the last quarter of 2025, the cryptocurrency industry witnessed businesses shutting down or exiting certain operations. 2026 has just begun, and it has come to light that a popular crypto company has let go of some of its staff. Related: Popular crypto company shuts down as Bitcoin crashes Firm fires staff amid global restructuring OKX crypto exchange's institutional business has recently undergone global restructuring, leading to a loss of jobs, CoinDesk reported on Jan. 9. The exact number of ...

Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan once again reiterated his 2026 outlook. Observing how crypto equities are gaining trust from Wall Street, Hougan believes they are on a path to outperform other equities soon. He primarily gave the example of Coinbase (NASDAQ: COIN). Related: 3 Ways to Gain Exposure to Crypto Through Equities How is Coinbase doing? After a year marked by underperformance, Coinbase has returned to investors’ radar. Founded in 2012 by Brian Armstrong and Fred Ehrsam, Coinbase operates the larges ...

Ripple just scored a major regulatory win in the United Kingdom, and the market reacted fast. XRP held around $2.13 even while other crypto prices moved lower, which stood out during a rough trading day. It shows that legal clarity is starting to carry real weight in crypto markets. London is one of the world’s main financial centers, so when regulators there approve a crypto company, investors take notice. What Did Ripple Actually Get Approved to Do? Ripple’s UK unit received approval from the Financi ...