Core Viewpoint - Coinbase has submitted a letter to U.S. regulators advocating for the removal of the "reputational risk" standard in bank regulation, arguing that it is vague, subjective, and difficult to quantify, making it unsuitable as a regulatory basis [1] Group 1 - Coinbase claims that during the Biden administration, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) pressured legitimate businesses using the "reputational risk" argument [1] - The company emphasizes that the concept of "reputational risk" does not directly correlate with financial risk or illegal activities, and it can easily become a tool for political bias [1]

Japan’s Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said she fully supports the integration of crypto trading services by the country’s stock exchanges, as she touted 2026 as the “digital year,” according to a report by Japanese crypto news site Coinpost. Katayama emphasized that regulated venues will play a central role in expanding crypto adoption at a ceremony in Tokyo on Jan. 5 to mark the first stock market trading session of the year. “For the public to enjoy the benefits of digital assets and blockchain-type ...

Core Viewpoint - Japan's government is actively supporting the integration of cryptocurrency trading into regulated stock and commodity exchanges, aiming for a structured approach to digital assets in 2026, termed as Japan's "digital year" [1][2]. Group 1: Government Support and Strategy - The government emphasizes that digital assets should be traded within existing regulatory frameworks to ensure investor protection and oversight [2]. - Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama highlighted that traditional exchanges are preferred for public access to digital assets, as they are viewed as more trustworthy compared to standalone crypto platforms [3]. - The government is closely monitoring international markets, noting that crypto-linked exchange products are already trading on major venues in the United States [3]. Group 2: Regulatory Changes - Japan's Financial Services Agency (FSA) proposed shifting crypto oversight from the Payment Services Act to the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, aligning it with the regulation of stocks and funds [5]. - This regulatory shift would classify major cryptocurrencies as financial products, introducing stricter disclosure requirements and enforcement measures [5]. - Enforcement actions have intensified, with authorities requesting the removal of apps linked to unregistered overseas exchanges, making local approval essential for access to Japanese users [6]. Group 3: Taxation and Stablecoins - The government is considering a tax policy change to lower the crypto gains tax from a progressive rate of up to 55% to a flat rate of 20%, aligning it with the taxation of stocks and funds [6]. - Stablecoins, such as the yen-backed JPYC, are part of the broader strategy to integrate digital assets into the banking system, rather than creating a separate crypto economy [7].

gold bitcoin, gold all time high, silver, gold prices,. Photo by BeInCrypto Welcome to the US Crypto News Morning Briefing—your essential rundown of the most important developments in crypto for the day ahead. Grab a coffee, because this is one of those slow-burning market stories that’s quietly getting bigger. While crypto headlines remain dominated by geopolitics, metals, and macro-driven swings, a different trend is coming up, where steady capital is moving into tokenized gold like Tether's XAUT. Cry ...

Core Viewpoint - Bitcoin reached a peak of $93,000 on Monday, leading to a surge in Bitcoin-related stocks [1] Group 1: Bitcoin Price Movement - Bitcoin's price hit $93,000, indicating strong market interest and potential bullish sentiment [1] Group 2: Stock Performance - Bitcoin-related stocks saw significant pre-market gains, with Strategy (MSTR.US) and Coinbase (COIN.US) rising nearly 4% [1] - Robinhood (HOOD.US) and Circle (CRCL.US) increased by over 1.8% [1] - Iren Ltd (IREN.US) experienced a rise of over 5.6% [1] - Mara Holdings (MARA.US) saw an increase of over 4.5% [1]

Will Ethereum's space travel push help boost its price further? | Credit: Gemini. Key Takeaways Jeff Bezos’ space company has expanded crypto payments to include Ethereum. Ethereum’s price rally has been driven by optimism around the Fusaka upgrade and renewed institutional demand via ETF inflows. Technical risks remain despite the breakout. Ethereum surged above the $3,200 mark in early trading on Jan. 5, extending a recent rally as Jeff Bezos’ space company Blue Origin said it will accept ETH for ...

Core Insights - Bitmine Immersion Technologies has aggressively expanded its Ethereum treasury, acquiring 32,977 ETH in the past week, bringing total holdings to $14.2 billion, which includes 4.14 million ETH, 192 BTC, and $915 million in cash [1][2] Group 1: Ethereum Treasury Expansion - The company is the world's largest "fresh money" buyer of ETH, aiming to own 5% of the total ETH supply [2] - Total staked ETH reached 659,219 ETH, valued at approximately $2.1 billion, following a weekly increase of over 250,000 ETH [3] - Estimated potential annual staking income is $374 million at current staking rates of around 2.8% [3] Group 2: Staking Strategy and Infrastructure - Bitmine is launching the Made in America Validator Network (MAVAN) in Q1 2026, designed to optimize yield and long-term returns [4] - The company is collaborating with three staking providers to finalize MAVAN, which is described as a "best-in-class" secure staking infrastructure [4] Group 3: Market Position and Macro Factors - Bitmine ranks as the largest Ethereum treasury globally and the second-largest crypto treasury overall, following Strategy's Bitcoin holdings [7] - The company has seen significant trading activity, with average daily trading volume nearing $1 billion, placing it among the top 50 most traded U.S. equities [7] - Macro tailwinds supporting Bitmine's strategy include U.S. government support for crypto, increased stablecoin adoption, and rising demand for authentication solutions in an AI-driven economy [5] - Regulatory developments like the GENIUS Act and SEC's Project Crypto may transform the digital asset landscape, similar to the post-Bretton Woods financial system shift [6] Group 4: Shareholder Engagement - Bitmine will hold its annual stockholder meeting on January 15, 2026, in Las Vegas, where proposals including an increase in authorized shares will be voted on [8]

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. risks losing its competitive advantage in the stablecoin market if it mishandles the debate over allowing rewards on dollar-pegged stablecoins, as highlighted by Coinbase's policy chief Faryar Shirzad [1][2]. Group 1: Legislative Context - The U.S. enacted the GENIUS ACT in July, which provides guidelines for stablecoin issuance and prohibits issuers from sharing profits with holders through interest payments [4]. - Banking groups are urging lawmakers to close loopholes in the GENIUS Act, citing concerns over deposit flight risks to community banks that could impact their lending capabilities [5]. Group 2: Competitive Landscape - The People's Bank of China announced it would start paying interest on digital yuan holdings, effective January 1, as part of its strategy to promote the adoption of its Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) [3]. - There are concerns that if the U.S. does not adapt its regulations, non-U.S. stablecoins and CBDCs could gain a significant competitive edge, particularly in light of China's interest rate on demand deposits being at 0.05% [2][3]. Group 3: Industry Reactions - The Blockchain Association argues that claims regarding stablecoin rewards harming community banks lack evidence and warns that changes to the GENIUS Act could undermine the regulatory certainty typically associated with Congressional actions [6]. - As negotiations for the Senate's market structure legislation progress, there is optimism from White House officials that the legislation will advance, despite previous delays [7].

Bitmine releases Special Chairman's Message related to upcoming Annual Stockholder Meeting Bitmine staked ETH stands at 659,219 and MAVAN staking solution on track to launch Q1 2026 Bitmine remains the largest 'fresh money' buyer of ETH in the world Bitmine now owns 3.43% of the ETH token supply, two-thirds of the way to the 'Alchemy of 5%' Bitmine Crypto + Total Cash Holdings + "Moonshots" total $14.2 billion, including 4.144 million ETH tokens, total cash of $915 million, and other crypto holdings Bitmine ...

bigjom jom / Shutterstock.com As 2026 begins, XRP ETFs have delivered the most compelling institutional adoption story in crypto—yet price hasn't followed. In just 50 days since launching mid-November 2025, these products absorbed $1.3 billion with 43 consecutive days of positive inflows and zero outflows. That makes XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) the second-fastest crypto ETF to cross the billion-dollar threshold after Bitcoin. The disconnect is striking. Institutions poured $483 million into XRP ETFs in December a ...