Core Insights - Stablecoins have become a conservative alternative to traditional cryptocurrencies, being pegged to the U.S. dollar unlike Bitcoin which lacks a defined market value [1] Group 1: Stablecoin Overview - Stablecoins are useful for quick cross-border transfers and can be held without a bank account, offering higher yields than traditional savings accounts [2] - USD Coin (USDC) has a market cap of $73.3 billion, making it the second-most-valuable stablecoin, while Ripple USD (RLUSD) has a market cap of $1.5 billion, ranking ninth [6] Group 2: USD Coin - USD Coin was launched by Circle in 2018 and is backed 1:1 by U.S. dollars and short-term U.S. Treasuries, with monthly attestations from independent auditing firms [7] - The structure of USD Coin is more transparent and centralized, appealing to conservative investors who prefer institutional backing [8] Group 3: Ripple USD - Ripple USD was launched in 2024 and operates as an "IOU" issued by individual gateways on the XRP Ledger, backed by U.S. dollars in the gateway's bank account [9] - The decentralized nature of Ripple USD relies on the reputation of the issuing gateway, which poses risks if the gateway fails to hold sufficient cash [10] Group 4: Investment Recommendation - For most investors, USD Coin is considered a better stablecoin than Ripple USD due to its straightforward structure and institutional backing, while Ripple USD's decentralized approach may be less stable for conservative investors [11]

Group 1 - The article discusses various methods for earning passive income from cryptocurrency holdings, including staking, crypto lending, yield farming, and decentralized finance (DeFi) [1][2] - Platforms like Aave and Compound currently offer annual percentage yields (APYs) of 4.79% and 3.27% on USD Coin, respectively [1] - Staking is highlighted as a safer method for generating yield compared to crypto lending, which has limited consumer protections [2][3] Group 2 - Certain cryptocurrencies, such as Ethereum, Solana, and Cardano, provide yields to investors as rewards for contributing to network security through staking [3] - The Bitwise Solana Staking ETF claims that Solana holders can earn up to 7% average returns, with expectations of more staking ETFs being approved by the SEC this year [3] - The article compares potential earnings from staking $50,000 on various cryptocurrencies, showing that Solana offers the highest APY at 4.25%, resulting in a 1-year gain of $2,125 and a 5-year gain of $11,567.33 [5] Group 3 - Passive income from crypto is expected to increase in 2026 as ETFs make staking more accessible, but users should be cautious of fees associated with different platforms [6] - For example, Kraken's Auto Earn program only rewards users on half of the assets staked, and some platforms may take up to 25% of earnings in fees [6]

Core Insights - The recent Bitcoin crash was not due to manipulation or panic but highlighted that Bitcoin has become what it aimed to disrupt, aligning more with traditional financial systems [1][30] - Institutional selling from American entities led to a significant negative Coinbase premium, indicating a lack of confidence among US institutions while global retail traders attempted to buy the dip [4][28] Market Dynamics - For 21 consecutive days leading up to the crash, Bitcoin traded at a discount on Coinbase compared to offshore exchanges, with the Coinbase premium reaching a negative $167.8, the worst in a year [3][4] - Hedge funds have exited their Bitcoin positions as the basis trade, which previously offered 17% risk-free returns, diminished to below 5% by early 2026, resulting in a one-third reduction in Bitcoin ETF exposure [2][8] Institutional Behavior - The persistent negative premium during the crash indicated aggressive selling from institutions, with no significant buying interest from institutional players [5][20] - Stablecoins like Tether and USD Coin saw a loss of nearly $14 billion from December to February, suggesting that investors were exiting the crypto ecosystem rather than reallocating within it [5][6] Structural Changes - Bitcoin's integration into institutional frameworks has led to it behaving like a traditional asset, with its price now closely correlated with technology stocks, reflecting a shift from its original decentralized vision [18][22] - The mechanisms of ETF creation and redemption have resulted in mechanical selling during outflows, further distancing Bitcoin from its foundational principles [16][23] Future Scenarios - Three potential paths for Bitcoin's future include a return of institutional capital through Federal Reserve interest rate cuts, a stagnant market with continued ETF outflows, or a prolonged range-bound price movement between $60,000 and $75,000 [24][25] - The current holder base lacks the ideological commitment seen in previous market cycles, with institutional investors acting based on performance metrics rather than long-term belief in Bitcoin [26][27]

Russia’s patents office has granted Tether, the issuer of the USDT stablecoin, approval for a trademark for the Hadron tokenisation platform. Tether submitted its application to the Russian Federal Intellectual Property Office, known as Rospatent, in October 2025, the Russian newspaper RIA Novosti reported on January 10. Rospatent reviewed the application late last year and approved it earlier this month, the outlet wrote. The development indicates Tether is looking to get in on Russia’s fast-growing c ...

Coinbase has pulled the plug on its operations in Argentina, less than a year after launching in the South American nation. The crypto exchange told its Argentine customers that it will end peso trading in the stablecoin USD Coin on January 31 as it “reevaluates” its offerings. But in further comments to the press, the firm referred to a wider “strategic retreat.” “Today we notified users in Argentina that, following a review of our local operations, we have made the decision to temporarily take a step ...

Group 1 - GrabAGun Digital Holdings Inc. (NYSE:PEW) is recognized as one of the 10 Best New Penny Stocks to Invest In, having recently started accepting cryptocurrency payments, making it the first major firearms retailer to do so [1] - The company aims to build a modern and scalable digital commerce platform for firearms consumers, enhancing payment flexibility while ensuring compliance and reliability [2] - A strategic partnership with Silencer Shop has been established, allowing customers access to a wide selection of firearm suppressors and related accessories [3] Group 2 - The collaboration with Silencer Shop leverages both companies' networks of authorized dealers and simplifies the purchasing process for NFA-regulated items through proprietary technology [4] - GrabAGun Digital Holdings Inc. operates as a digitally native ecommerce retailer specializing in firearms, ammunition, and outdoor enthusiast products [4]

JPMorgan (JPM) CEO Jamie Dimon famously called Bitcoin (BTCUSD) a “fraud” in 2017 and spent years comparing it to pet rocks, suggesting that its primary purpose is to serve scammers and money launderers. At times, his comments have sunk the Bitcoin price, with many on Wall Street looking to Dimon as a “guru” on all things finance. More News from Barchart Now though, his company’s under-the-radar moves show that not only has Dimon changed his tune – but that JPMorgan is betting the current selloff in cry ...

Core Insights - The crypto market has faced significant challenges in Q3 2025, with Bitcoin's price dropping from an all-time high of over $123,000 to around $90,000 [1] Industry Developments - Several companies in the crypto industry are shutting down or filing for bankruptcy, including DappRadar, which ceased operations due to financial unsustainability [2] - Rental Coins, a Brazilian crypto firm, has filed for Chapter 15 bankruptcy in the U.S. to recover its assets [2] - Bitfarms Ltd. announced plans to abandon Bitcoin mining operations in favor of AI by 2027 [3] Security Incidents - A leading crypto trading exchange has suffered a significant hack, resulting in millions of dollars lost [3] - Upbit, South Korea's largest crypto exchange, reported a loss of approximately $36.8 million due to a breach involving irregular withdrawals of Solana network assets [4] - Upbit has initiated an emergency security review and halted some services following the incident [4] Company Responses - Upbit's CEO stated that the exchange will fully compensate affected members with its own assets [5] - The exchange has moved remaining funds into cold storage to prevent further suspicious withdrawals and is working to freeze on-chain assets [5] - Naver Financial announced plans to acquire Upbit's parent company, Dunamu, in an all-stock deal valued at $10.29 billion [6]

Core Insights - Kontigo, a crypto exchange, has frozen US-bank services for its Venezuelan users, impacting thousands who rely on the platform for US dollar transactions in a hyperinflationary economy [1][2] - The suspension follows increased US political and military pressure on Venezuela, with no clear timeline for service resumption provided by Kontigo [2] Group 1: Company Operations - Kontigo is described as a "USDC Smart Neobank for Latinos in the U.S. and Latin America" and has gained prominence in Venezuela, being one of only two crypto exchange platforms authorized to operate in the country [1][5] - The company has a partnership with Banco Nacional de Crédito, allowing customers to convert US dollars into Circle's USD Coin, which is a key service for Venezuelan customers [6] - Kontigo claims over 300,000 app downloads and operates services throughout Latin America, although it does not disclose transaction volume data [6] Group 2: Economic Context - Venezuelan inflation is projected to reach 270% by the end of 2025, prompting retailers to adopt crypto payment solutions as citizens seek alternatives to the fiat bolivar [3] - US-Venezuela remittances are crucial for the Venezuelan economy, leading to the launch of the Patria platform in 2017, which included crypto remittance functionality [4] - The Patria platform faced challenges in 2023 due to a corruption crackdown that led to the closure of the government agency overseeing it [4]

Group 1: Cryptocurrency Market Overview - XRP is the fourth-most valuable cryptocurrency with a market value of $145 billion and currently trades at $2.40 [1] - Morningstar analysts predict the entire cryptocurrency market will expand at 10% annually in the coming years, while XRP is expected to outperform with a 20% annual return, reaching $6 by 2030, indicating a 150% upside from current levels [2] Group 2: Ripple and XRP Functionality - Ripple utilizes XRP and RLUSD to facilitate cross-border transactions, aiming to improve upon the traditional SWIFT system which is slow and incurs high fees [4] - XRP serves as a bridge currency, allowing transactions to settle within seconds at a minimal cost, with CEO Brad Garlinghouse predicting XRP could capture 14% of SWIFT payment volume within five years, translating to over $20 trillion annually through the XRP Ledger [5][8] Group 3: Market Challenges and Competition - The introduction of the stablecoin RLUSD aims to mitigate risks associated with using a volatile cryptocurrency like XRP, but it faces competition from established stablecoins such as USD Coin [6] - XRP transaction volume has been declining throughout 2025, suggesting waning interest and skepticism regarding enterprise adoption of XRP payments [7]