Core Insights - Gold has been recognized as a reliable asset during financial distress, serving as a store of value and a safe haven during inflation and currency debasement [1] - The price of gold reached a new all-time high of $5,110.50 per ounce on January 26, 2026, with an appreciation of over 50% in value over the last six months [2] - In contrast, Bitcoin has lost 25% of its value during the same period, with the total crypto market cap also declining by approximately 25% [3] Company Developments - Tether Limited, known for its USDT stablecoin, has shifted focus to Tether Gold (XAUT), a gold-backed stablecoin, with one XAUT backed by one fine troy ounce of physical gold [5] - As of the end of Q4 2025, Tether held 520,089.350 fine troy ounces of gold, valued at $2.2 billion, with 520,089.300000 XAUT tokens in circulation [5] - Tether Gold accounted for about 60% of the total gold-backed stablecoin supply, positioning Tether among the top 30 global gold holders, surpassing countries like Greece, Qatar, and Australia [6][7]

Stablecoins are coming for bank deposits — and traditional lenders aren’t happy about it. Stablecoins settle instantly, work around the clock, and increasingly offer better returns than traditional savings accounts. It’s that last point that poses the most risk for banks that rely on customer deposits. Now, UK-based Standard Chartered has quantified the damage. Analysts expect roughly $500 billion to leave developed-market banks in the US by the end of 2028, with another $1 trillion to flee emerging-m ...

Core Viewpoint - The dominance of traditional bank deposits as a safe haven is being challenged by the rise of dollar-pegged stablecoins, posing a structural risk to banks globally [2][4]. Group 1: Impact on Bank Deposits - Standard Chartered estimates that U.S. bank deposits could decrease by one-third of the stablecoin market cap, which is currently around $301 billion, indicating a potential outflow of tens of billions of dollars from the banking system [4]. - If the stablecoin market grows to approximately $2 trillion, banks in developed economies could see around $500 billion in deposits leave by the end of 2028, while emerging-market banks could lose close to $1 trillion during the same period [5]. Group 2: Stablecoin Demand and Market Dynamics - Approximately two-thirds of stablecoin demand originates from emerging markets, with one-third from developed markets [5]. - The yield on stablecoins has become a contentious issue, with banks arguing that it could lead to a significant outflow of deposits and increased risks of bank runs, while the crypto community claims that stablecoins already generate yield through reserves and market activities [6]. Group 3: Legislative Context - The debate surrounding stablecoins has intensified with proposed U.S. legislation like the CLARITY Act, which has faced opposition from exchanges like Coinbase, arguing that such restrictions would hinder innovation and institutional adoption [7]. - Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan has warned that up to $6 trillion in bank deposits could transition to stablecoins, representing about 30-35% of total commercial bank deposits in the U.S. [8].

Tether said Tuesday that its USAT stablecoin is now available for trading and will be issued by Anchorage Digital, providing it with a pathway toward compliance under the GENIUS Act. In a press release, the El Salvador-based firm said the stablecoin—which debuted on several crypto exchanges, including Kraken and Crypto.com—was specifically designed for U.S. markets, with Anchorage's status as a federally chartered digital asset bank placing the product under the supervision of the U.S. Office of the Comptro ...

Market Overview - The Solana ecosystem tokens experienced a decline this week, with Solana (SOL) dropping over 4% week-over-week to under $124 due to fears of a potential U.S. government shutdown [1][4] - The total market capitalization of Solana-based tokens fell by approximately 3% to around $177 billion [1] On-Chain Activity - Despite the sell-off, Solana's application layer had a strong week, with Ondo Finance introducing over 200 tokenized stocks and funds to the network [2][8] - On January 26, Solana token launchpad volume reached a 2026 high of nearly $180 million, indicating robust on-chain trading activity [6] Geopolitical Impact - The likelihood of a U.S. government shutdown rose to 84%, contributing to the market downturn, with major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) also experiencing declines of around 3% and 5% respectively [4] - Geopolitical fears overshadowed the positive momentum in Solana's application layer, which has generated over $75 million in revenue this year [5] Notable Developments - Ondo Finance expanded its on-chain real-world asset trading platform to Solana from Ethereum and BNB Chain, marking a significant development in the ecosystem [8] - The total market cap of real-world assets (RWAs) on Solana surpassed $1 billion, reflecting growing interest and investment in this segment [9]

Core Insights - The cryptocurrency market has reached a mainstream status, with significant adoption by financial advisors and institutional investors [4][6][12] - The introduction of spot ETFs has simplified access to cryptocurrencies, allowing investors to buy them similarly to traditional stocks [2][3] - Regulatory improvements under the new administration have increased confidence among financial advisors and investors, facilitating greater participation in the crypto market [16][17] Financial Advisors' Perspective - Approximately 30 to 40 percent of financial advisors are now incorporating cryptocurrencies into client portfolios, indicating a shift from niche to mainstream investment [7] - A survey revealed that 99 percent of advisors who currently hold crypto plan to either maintain or increase their exposure in the coming years, despite a challenging market in 2025 [9][11] - Advisors are adopting a long-term investment strategy, with many holding cryptocurrencies rather than engaging in short-term trading [8] Market Trends and Future Outlook - The cryptocurrency industry is expected to continue its rapid growth, driven by institutional adoption and regulatory clarity, with significant developments anticipated in 2026 [21][19] - The Clarity Act, currently under congressional debate, could provide a stable regulatory framework for the crypto industry, further enhancing its legitimacy [19] - The normalization of cryptocurrencies as a standard asset class alongside stocks and bonds is becoming evident, suggesting a lasting impact on the financial landscape [22][23]

Chainalysis 报告称，链上加密洗钱规模已从 2020 年的约 100 亿美元激增至 2025 年的超 820 亿美元。其 中，中文语系洗钱网络已占约 20% 的已知非法资金流。这类网络依托 Telegram 担保平台、资金跑分 （money mule）与 OTC 经纪运作，2025 年单年处理约 161 亿美元，涉及 1800 个活跃钱包。 （CoinDesk） （来源：吴说） ...

Core Insights - Galaxy Digital's Galaxy Ventures leads a $7 million seed funding round for Tenbin Labs, with participation from Wintermute Ventures, GSR, and FalconX [1] Group 1: Investment Details - The funding round amounts to $7 million, aimed at supporting Tenbin Labs' initiatives [1] - Investors include notable firms such as Wintermute Ventures, GSR, and FalconX [1] Group 2: Project Overview - Tenbin plans to bring gold and foreign exchange onto the blockchain based on CME futures [1] - The project aims to replace traditional custodial wrapping with futures pricing and basis yield, enabling faster settlements and lower fees [1] - The initial offering will be tokenized gold, followed by foreign exchange tokens for emerging markets like the Brazilian real and Mexican peso [1] - The target audience includes DeFi users seeking alternatives to USD stablecoins [1]

Core Insights - The Bitcoin Layer 2 project Citrea, supported by Founders Fund and Galaxy, has officially launched its mainnet and introduced its native stablecoin ctUSD [1] Group 1: Project Overview - Citrea utilizes zkEVM to process transactions off-chain, generating zero-knowledge proofs that are recorded on the Bitcoin mainnet, enabling native settlement and data availability for Bitcoin [1] - The project will focus on supporting BTC collateralized lending and structured products [1] Group 2: Stablecoin Details - ctUSD is issued by MoonPay and is fully backed by short-term U.S. Treasury bonds and cash, complying with the requirements of the GENIUS Act [1]

The regulatory bottleneck in Washington is masking a trillion-dollar threat to the U.S. banking core. The rise of stablecoins is moving beyond emerging markets to become a direct threat to domestic balance sheets, investment bank Standard Chartered said in a Tuesday report. The primary risk for U.S. lenders is the erosion of net interest margin (NIM), according to Geoff Kendrick, head of digital assets research at Standard Chartered. He identified NIM as the most critical vulnerability because it is drive ...