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Mantra is restructuring after what its leadership described as one of the most difficult periods in the project’s history, following a severe collapse in its OM token and months of sustained market pressure that have forced the company to reassess its cost structure and priorities.

On Wednesday, Mantra CEO and co-founder John Patrick Mullin announced that the blockchain project would reduce its workforce and shift to a leaner operating model as it heads into 2026.

Today, I’m sharing one of the most difficult decisions we’ve had to make at MANTRA.

After the most challenging year MANTRA has faced for a multitude of reasons, I’ve decided to restructure the company. This includes reducing our team size and parting ways with a number of…

— JP Mullin (, ) (@jp_mullin888) January 14, 2026

The decision comes after a year marked by aggressive expansion, a brutal token drawdown, and a prolonged downturn in market sentiment toward real-world asset tokenization.

Mantra Tightens Operations Token Collapse and prolonged market pressure

In a statement shared publicly, Mullin said the restructuring would involve job cuts across several teams, with business development, marketing, HR, and support roles among those most affected.

He claimed it was done as a response to the reality of matching expenditure with short-term realities since the cost base of Mantra could not be sustained in the face of the deteriorating market conditions.

Mullin added that the company would now be directed to disciplined execution, tightening of resources, and capital efficiency as it aims at stabilizing and rebuilding.

Going into 2024 and early 2025, Mantra had big growth plans and heavy investments to scale its RWA infrastructure, its chain, and its overall ecosystem.

Such effort assisted in making the project one of the top Layer-1s that concentrate on tokenized real-world assets.

However, Mullin said a combination of unfavorable events in April 2025, intensifying competition, and a prolonged market downturn ultimately forced the company to change course.

On April 13, the token fell from around $6.30 to below $0.50 during low-liquidity weekend trading, wiping out more than $6 billion in market capitalization within 24 hours, and triggered widespread concern across the DeFi sector.

MANTRA's core team denies wrongdoing after its native token $OM suffers a massive 90% token drop, sparking investor panic and allegations of a rug pull.#Mantra #OM https://t.co/PtDjGiHbCT

— Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) April 14, 2025

Mantra denied any wrongdoing at the time, attributing the crash to forced liquidations by a large token holder on a centralized exchange.

Source: CoinGecko

CoinGecko data shows that OM had reached an all-time high of $8.99 in February 2025 before falling to as low as $0.59 by mid-April and remains trading roughly 99% below its peak.

Mantra Seeks Fresh Start After Cuts Back

In the aftermath of the collapse, Mantra took several steps aimed at restoring confidence, with Mullin announcing plans to burn 150 million OM tokens allocated to him at mainnet genesis, with the unstaking process completed later in April 2025.

A token buyback program and a public tokenomics dashboard were also introduced as part of a broader effort to improve transparency.

The project’s challenges were compounded later in 2025 by a public dispute with crypto exchange OKX over the timing and structure of OM’s token migration.

Mullin accused the exchange of publishing incorrect migration dates and urged users to withdraw tokens and follow official Mantra channels instead. The dispute added to uncertainty for holders already shaken by the April collapse.

Mantra CEO @jp_mullin888 warns $OM holders to withdraw tokens from OKX immediately amid disputed migration dates #OM #OKX #Mantrahttps://t.co/p9rRttPXcs

— Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) December 8, 2025

Against that backdrop, Mullin said the restructuring is designed to extend Mantra’s runway and refocus the company on execution rather than expansion.

As the company looks to the future, Mullin explained that Mantra would be more disciplined and will ship faster and push itself forward into a sustainable and profitable future.

He said the company remains committed to its RWA strategy and believes a leaner structure will leave it better positioned to navigate market volatility and deliver on its long-term vision as the next phase of crypto adoption unfolds.

The post Mantra Slashes Staff and Restructures Following ‘Brutal’ OM Token Collapse appeared first on Cryptonews.

Bitcoin surged past $97,000 on Wednesday as the crypto finally caught up with a broader rally in equities and precious metals, with over $100 million in short positions liquidated in just one hour.

Source: TradingView

The breakout comes after weeks of Bitcoin lagging behind traditional assets, with QCP Capital noting that the digital asset has pushed through the $95,000 resistance level that capped rallies since November.

The move higher reflects a strengthening risk-on environment driven by stable U.S. inflation and a resilient job market, creating what QCP describes as a “Goldilocks environment” where investors are piling into everything from stocks to precious metals and now crypto.

Despite geopolitical tensions in Venezuela and Iran, markets have remained resilient, interpreting U.S. involvement as a reassertion of global leadership rather than a source of instability.

Trump’s Economic Agenda Fuels Market Confidence

QCP believes political calculations are driving the rally, arguing that President Trump is focused on achieving new equity market highs ahead of the midterm elections this year.

“The market is convinced that Trump will do anything to Make America Great Again, with his measure of success being new highs in equity markets,” QCP stated in its analysis.

The firm sees flush liquidity and renewed American leadership as Trump’s primary tools, naturally leading to U.S. outperformance and a global risk-on environment.

However, traditional markets showed cracks on Wednesday as Wall Street declined for a second straight session.

The S&P 500 fell 0.7%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 182 points, weighed down by mixed bank earnings that disappointed investors.

Wells Fargo plunged 4.6% on weaker-than-expected revenue, while Bank of America declined 3.8% despite beating profit estimates, highlighting how elevated valuations have left little room for disappointment.

Meanwhile, precious metals continued their explosive start to the year, with gold, silver, copper, and tin all hitting record highs as investors embraced the so-called debasement trade.

Source: YahooFinance

Silver jumped 6.1% to top $92 per ounce, while gold notched another all-time peak above $4,620, capping a remarkable 65% gain in 2025.

“When gold moves first, it usually signals declining trust in fiat currencies,” Hao Hong, chief investment officer at Lotus Asset Management, told Bloomberg. “Everything is measured against gold, then most assets look cheap right now.“

Political Turmoil Amplifies Safe-Haven Demand

The precious metals rally accelerated after deadly protests in Iran killed over 500 people, with Tehran warning it could target U.S. military bases if President Trump intervenes.

Political uncertainty intensified when the Justice Department served Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell with grand jury subpoenas over Senate testimony, pressuring the dollar and raising questions about central bank independence.

Fed Chair Powell accuses Trump administration of using criminal threats to pressure rate cuts after DOJ grand jury subpoenas over renovation testimony, triggering bipartisan backlash.#Fed #Trump #DOJhttps://t.co/nKiwflcFWg

— Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) January 12, 2026

Farzam Ehsani, CEO of crypto exchange VALR, warned that the situation creates a paradox for digital assets.

“On the one hand, weakening confidence in dollar policy traditionally increases interest in decentralized assets as a hedge against political and currency risk,” he said.

“On the other hand, abrupt political maneuvers and aggressive polarization within the government are increasing instability, triggering short-term outflows from risky assets.“

Ray Youssef, CEO of the crypto app NoOnes, also noted that capital rotation, rather than panic, appears to be driving market moves.

“The US market is slightly down, but this is more likely due to capital rotation, as investors are shifting capital from riskier to more predictable sectors,” he explained, adding that gold and Bitcoin are increasingly treated as refuges from macro chaos.

QCP sees Bitcoin’s recent underperformance relative to precious metals as creating opportunity, suggesting that “the relative cheapness of Bitcoin relative to precious metals at this point may spur a rotation to digital assets.”

The firm acknowledged risks remain, particularly around pending Supreme Court decisions on tariffs, which have also been postponed again, and potential escalation in Venezuela or Iran, but believes these concerns are already priced in.

BREAKING: The US Supreme Court decides to NOT issue a highly anticipated ruling on the legality of President Trump's tariffs today.

This marks the second-straight time the ruling was not released as expected.

— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) January 14, 2026

Youssef remained cautious, noting that the crypto market “continues to see active BTC selling during the U.S. trading session” and that “no compelling reason yet for the cryptocurrency’s rapid price growth.“

The post QCP Says Bitcoin’s Finally Waking Up After Lagging Stocks and Gold appeared first on Cryptonews.

Trvalé dezentralizované burzy se přesouvají z okrajů kryptoměnového obchodování do středu trhu, jak ukazují nová data a komentáře od Delphi Digital, které naznačují, že tyto platformy se mohou vyvinout na kompletní finanční centra, která budou výzvou k tradičním funkcím bank.

Pohyb je způsoben skutečností, že obchodníci jsou stále přitahováni infrastrukturami založenými na blockchainu, které snižují počet prostředníků, snižují náklady a fungují po celou dobu, i když se ceny tokenů na trhu mění.

BONK právě získal své první projevení důvěry ze strany TradFi, což přineslo podporu pro pozitivní předpovědi ceny Bonk, a je zvažován pro výběr do produktové sady Grayscale.

Meme mince byla identifikována jako kandidát v aktualizaci aktiv zvažovaných v prvním čtvrtletí roku 2026 od Grayscale, což ji umístilo v dosahu regulovaného přístupu na trh TradFi ve Spojených státech.

Dozvědět se více o rozmanitých digitálních aktivech, které zvažujeme pro budoucí investiční produkty, a prozkoumat ty, které už jsou součástí našich nabídek, ve svěžím aktualizovaném přehledu aktiv, které zvažujeme. Něco přehlížíme?

Bitcoin open interest has plunged over 31% from its 2025 peak, now stabilizing around $10 billion as analysts identify this decline as a critical bottoming formation that could propel BTC toward a $105,000 breakout.

The deleveraging phase, triggered by massive liquidations, has pushed open interest below its 180-day moving average while trading activity continues surging with spot volume approaching $60 billion.

On-chain analysis from Darkorst characterized 2025 as a year of unprecedented speculation, with Binance futures trading volumes alone exceeding $25 trillion.

Deleveraging signal as BTC OI drops by 31%

“Historically, they have often marked significant bottoms, effectively resetting the market and creating a stronger base for a potential bullish recovery.” – By @Darkfost_Coc pic.twitter.com/JkYoKfg4Ql

— CryptoQuant.com (@cryptoquant_com) January 14, 2026

Bitcoin’s open interest exploded to an all-time high above $15 billion on October 6, nearly tripling the $5.7 billion peak witnessed during the November 2021 bull run when Bitcoin reached its previous all-time high.

Market Reset Creates Foundation for Bullish Recovery

The October 10 market crash sparked a severe deleveraging event that purged excessive leverage from the system.

“This decline, amplified by massive liquidations, triggered a deleveraging phase, with OI falling below its 180-day moving average,” Darkorst explained.

Source: CryptoQuant

These deleveraging periods serve a vital function in market structure. “Historically, they have often marked significant bottoms, effectively resetting the market and creating a stronger base for a potential bullish recovery,” he noted.

Bitcoin has responded with a 3% rally over the past 24 hours, holding firmly above $95,000 while demonstrating renewed strength across both futures and spot markets.

The price action suggests the worst of the correction may be over.

Futures Positioning Signals First Major Shift Since October Peak

Macro analyst Axel identified a critical turning point in futures market positioning.

A composite index tracking open interest dynamics, funding rates, and long-short ratios across major exchanges shows the 30-day simple moving average climbing from 2.1 to 3.5, marking the first breakout above 3 since October 6, when Bitcoin rallied toward $125,000.

The daily positioning index surged to 24, entering bullish territory amid aggressive long accumulation.

Source: AdlerAM

Open interest grew 1.89% with positive taker delta and funding at 0.0045 as price jumped 4.58% to $95,358, pushing total open interest to $12.18 billion.

Market sentiment reached a local peak of 93.15% yesterday evening at $95,061 before cooling to 70%, still well above the neutral 50% threshold and the 30-day average of 62.9%.

This contrasts sharply with mid-December’s extreme bearish readings of 10-15% during the correction to $85,000, when positioning turned overwhelmingly negative.

Resistance Cluster at $105k Holds Key to ATH Attempt

Axel emphasized that sustained momentum requires the simple moving average to hold above 2 for one week, which would confirm the positioning shift and trigger a potential breakout above the psychological $100,000 barrier.

Crypto analyst Trader Mayne assessed the probability of a bullish recovery following Bitcoin’s breakout above two-month resistance at $94,000.

“If I had to handicap it, I’d say 70% chance of a lower high, 30% chance at new ATHs,” he stated.

However, he outlined a clear path forward if the bulls maintain control.

$BTC

Attempting to close through the range highs here.

I absolutely fumbled shorting the top and started longing a little too early on the way down.

That said, I got back in sync with things at the $80k low and am glad I stuck to my guns and didn't puke spot into the lows.… pic.twitter.com/CLu4NMLlDD

— Mayne (@Tradermayne) January 13, 2026

Holding comfortably above $94,000 would bring the next resistance cluster around $105,000 into focus, with a successful breach potentially launching Bitcoin back toward the $120,000 highs established earlier in the cycle.

Low Volatility Environment Points Toward Range Expansion

The Bitcoin Realized Volatility chart shows that the current market calm is approaching levels that historically precede significant price breakouts.

Current volatility readings sit near the lower distribution zones for this market cycle, comparable to compression periods that preceded major moves throughout Bitcoin’s trading history.

These compressed regimes rarely persist over extended timeframes. As supply-demand imbalances accumulate beneath the surface, markets characteristically break from consolidation into range expansion phases, aligning with analyst projections for a $105,000 breakout that could catalyze a strong start to the 2026 rally.

The post Bitcoin Open Interest Drops 31% as Analysts Call a Market Bottom and Eye $105k Breakout appeared first on Cryptonews.

Bitnomial has launched the first-ever U.S.-regulated futures contracts tied to Aptos (APT) adding a regulated venue for institutional access to the Layer 1 blockchain ecosystem.

The contracts began trading on January 14 on Bitnomial Exchange offering both institutional and retail traders a regulated venue for price discovery and risk management.

A Regulated Market for APT Exposure

The new APT futures contracts feature monthly expirations and can be settled in either U.S. dollars or APT, depending on position direction.

Traders are able to post margin in crypto or USD through Bitnomial Clearinghouse, LLC, with contracts accessible via Bitnomial Exchange Futures Commission Merchant (FCM) clearing members.

Michael Dunn, president of Bitnomial Exchange, said the launch fills a critical gap in the U.S. derivatives landscape. He noted that a regulated futures market is a prerequisite for spot crypto exchange-traded fund approvals under the Securities and Exchange Commission’s generic listing standards.

According to the firm with APT futures now live institutional participants can access Aptos exposure using the same regulated infrastructure they already rely on for Bitcoin and Ether derivatives including portfolio margining across positions.

Institutional Infrastructure Meets Aptos

Aptos is a Layer 1 blockchain designed to deliver sub-second finality and high transaction throughput. Built using the Move programming language and a parallel execution engine the network has attracted growing interest from institutions exploring scalable blockchain applications.

Solomon Tesfaye, chief business officer at Aptos Labs, said U.S.-regulated derivatives infrastructure is essential for institutional adoption. He adds that Bitnomial’s CFTC-regulated exchange and clearinghouse provide the compliance, custody and risk management framework required by sophisticated market participants seeking exposure to Aptos.

Expanding the Crypto Complex

The introduction of APT futures further broadens Bitnomial’s Crypto Complex which provides U.S. market participants access to a wide range of digital asset derivatives.

Delivery-settled contracts listed on Bitnomial Exchange can be margined with digital assets, a structure the company says enhances capital efficiency compared with traditional cash-only margining.

This model allows traders to manage exposure across multiple crypto derivatives products more efficiently within a single regulated venue.

What Comes Next

APT futures are available for trading today for institutional clients. Retail access is expected in the coming weeks through Botanical, Bitnomial’s retail trading platform.

Looking ahead, Bitnomial said it plans to expand its Aptos-linked offerings with perpetual futures and options, further deepening the market for regulated APT derivatives in the U.S.

Bitnomial is headquartered in Chicago and operates a suite of CFTC-regulated exchange, clearinghouse and clearing brokerage entities.

The post Bitnomial Launches First U.S.-Regulated Aptos Futures appeared first on Cryptonews.

Vláda Spojeného království zrušila povinnost zaměstnanců se registrovat v novém digitálním systému identifikace pro prokázání práva k práci, což znamená významný ústup po pádu veřejné podpory a téměř tří milionů podpisů petice proti tomuto plánu.

Zatímco digitální ověření práva k práci bude i nadále povinné do roku 2029, pracovníci nyní mohou používat alternativní metody ověření, včetně biometrických pasů a komerčních aplikací, místo registrace v rámci vládního digitálního identifikačního programu, podle BBC.

A draft crypto market structure bill in the U.S. Senate is drawing renewed concern from the digital asset industry, with Galaxy Digital warning it could give the Treasury Department sweeping surveillance and enforcement authority reminiscent of the USA Patriot Act.

The warning comes as lawmakers move to bridge House and Senate regulatory proposals amid ongoing market volatility and policy uncertainty.

Senate Crypto Bill Gives Treasury Broad New Powers, Galaxy Says

In a research note published Tuesday, Galaxy said the Senate Banking Committee’s draft goes well beyond the House-passed Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, particularly in its treatment of illicit finance.

This week on Galaxy Grid — a weekly video series from@glxyresearch. @intangiblecoins, @TheThadP, @Uptodatenow, and @ZackPokorny_ unpack the stories shaping crypto — what happened, why it matters, and what’s next.

Episode 13 is live now pic.twitter.com/s7pgSvYUNI

— Galaxy Research (@glxyresearch) January 13, 2026

At the center of the firm’s concern is a new crypto-specific “special measures” authority that would allow Treasury to label foreign jurisdictions, financial institutions, or even entire categories of digital asset transactions as primary money-laundering concerns.

Once designated, Treasury could restrict or condition crypto fund transfers connected to those entities, a power Galaxy compared directly to authorities created under the Patriot Act after the September 11 attacks.

Galaxy argued that, while framed as a national security tool, the authority could be applied broadly across offshore trading venues and transaction rails, materially expanding the government’s reach into crypto markets.

It said that, taken together, the bill’s provisions would amount to the largest expansion of financial surveillance powers since the early 2000s, a period that remains controversial for its impact on civil liberties.

The draft legislation also introduces a formal framework for temporary transaction holds.

Under this mechanism, Treasury or other covered agencies could request that stablecoin issuers and digital asset service providers freeze transactions for up to 30 days, with the option to extend, without first obtaining a court order.

Galaxy flagged this as a significant departure from existing processes, noting the absence of immediate judicial oversight.

Another section of the bill explicitly brings crypto front ends into sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering compliance.

The text defines “distributed ledger application layers,” including web-hosted interfaces used to access blockchains and decentralized finance protocols.

It also directs Treasury to issue guidance requiring these tools to screen wallets, block sanctioned activity, and apply risk-based AML controls.

Stablecoin Rewards Face New Limits as Senate Crypto Debate Intensifies

Galaxy also pointed to language targeting so-called “DeFi in name only” protocols, which would allow regulators to impose Bank Secrecy Act obligations on teams or individuals who retain meaningful control over protocol functionality or user access.

The Senate proposal is moving forward alongside intense debate over stablecoin rewards.

A revised draft released ahead of the markup would prohibit digital asset service providers from paying yield simply for holding payment stablecoin balances.

Banking groups have backed the restriction, arguing that yield-bearing stablecoins resemble deposits without equivalent safeguards, while crypto firms say the issue was already settled under the GENIUS Act passed last year.

Industry responses have been mixed, with the Crypto Council for Innovation saying it views the Senate text as evidence of continued engagement on a critical policy priority but stressing that any final framework must preserve consumer choice and support competition.

Coinbase has warned it could withdraw support if reward programs are curtailed too aggressively, even as some executives signal a willingness to accept the current compromise.

The legislative path remains uncertain as the Senate Banking Committee is preparing for markup this week, while the Senate Agriculture Committee plans to release its own text by January 21, with a markup scheduled for January 27.

Senate sets January 27 crypto bill markup as banking lobby secures stablecoin yield limits and Democrats demand White House ethics guardrails.#Senate #Banking #CryptoBillhttps://t.co/iK8utlKRhr

— Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) January 14, 2026

Both versions would need to be reconciled before a full Senate vote, followed by negotiations with the House.

The post Senate Crypto Bill Hands Treasury “Patriot Act–Style” Surveillance Powers — Galaxy Sounds Alarm appeared first on Cryptonews.

Údaje z listopadu ukazují, že inflace cen výrobců vzrostla na 3,0 % ročně, výrazně nad očekávaných 2,7 % a zaznamenala nejvyšší úroveň od července 2025.

Bitcoin drží okolo 92 000 USD, protože překvapivé nárůsty posílí obavy o trvající inflaci, která omezuje schopnost FED snížit úrokové sazby agresivně v roce 2026.

Měsíční PPI se vyjádřil na 0,2 %, jak bylo očekáváno, ale roční zrychlení na 3,0 % signalizuje, že cenový tlak na úrovni výrobců zůstává vysoký a může se nakonec přenést na spotřebitelské ceny.

Crypto.com is beginning 2026 with the “SOL Airdrop Arena event”, where users can potentially earn Solana (SOL) rewards by staking CRO, the platform’s native token. This is a large campaign, with the exchange offering a $250,000 Solana prize pool, making it attractive to both CRO holders and Solana fans, it says.

The SOL Airdrop Arena takes place from January 1 to January 31, 2026, giving users a limited time to earn points and compete for a share of the $250,000 Solana prize.

What Is the Crypto.com SOL Airdrop Arena?

Per the exchange, the Crypto.com Airdrop Arena is a rewards program within the app where users lock up CRO to earn points that turn into crypto rewards. In the SOL Airdrop Arena, participants stake CRO and collect points to earn Solana tokens.

This feature complements Crypto.com’s other yield offerings (like the Crypto.com Earn interest program), providing another avenue for users to earn SOL with CRO, the team says. By requiring CRO for entry, Crypto.com adds utility to its token while enabling users to potentially gain SOL tokens in return.

Key Details of the SOL Airdrop Arena Event

The Crypto.com airdrop event offers a large reward pool and extra incentives for early and active users, with a total prize of $250,000 in SOL. The event began on January 1, 2026, and ends on January 31, 2026 (at 09:59 UTC).

Participants can receive a daily points boost of up to 120% if they buy at least 1,500 CRO and transfer it to the Airdrop Arena before joining the event.

How to Participate in the Solana Airdrop Arena

Getting started with the SOL Airdrop Arena is straightforward. Here are the steps for users to participate and start earning points:

Access Airdrop Arena: Open the Crypto.com App and navigate to Airdrop Arena. You can find it via the Account section, the Earn tab, or through the app’s main menu.

Allocate CRO tokens: Select the SOL Airdrop Arena event and stake the amount of CRO you want. For every 100 CRO, you get 1 point, and your participation starts right away.

Earn and boost points: After joining, you earn points every day while your CRO stays locked in the event. Use available boosters to increase your points. For example, being one of the first 10,000 participants or completing the CRO purchase task can raise your daily points.

Receive rewards and lockup: When the event ends, Crypto.com will total your points and determine your SOL reward. Solana rewards are airdropped within seven days after January 31, 2026. Your CRO stays locked for six months, after which you can withdraw it or let it roll over into future events.

CRO’s Role and Reward Mechanics

CRO is at the center of this Solana rewards event, serving as the staking currency. By making CRO required, Crypto.com boosts its token’s usefulness. The rewards are point-based: the more points you earn compared to others, the bigger your share of the $250,000 SOL prize, the team says.

You mainly earn points by allocating CRO, both at the start and daily. Special Point Boosters can greatly increase your points. For example, the Loot Locker lets you lock your earned SOL for another six months in exchange for a 200% daily points boost during the event.

Reward Distribution and Lockup Rules

The SOL Airdrop Arena has clear rules for rewards and lockup. After the event, Solana rewards are sent directly to participants’ Crypto.com Wallets within seven days. If you use the optional Loot Locker, you get your SOL after an extra six-month lockup, and you earn more points during the event.

CRO staked in the Airdrop Arena is locked for six months and can’t be withdrawn or used elsewhere during that time. After the lockup, you can withdraw your CRO or keep it allocated for automatic entry into future events. This setup encourages long-term participation while also providing options after the lockup period ends, Crypto.com says.

Why the Airdrop Arena Appeals to Users

According to the exchange, Airdrop Arena is made for users who want a passive way to earn crypto rewards. After you allocate CRO, points accumulate each day automatically with minimal effort. This is attractive for CRO holders who want Solana exposure without having to trade.

The program allows users to earn SOL without purchasing it directly, converting CRO holdings into rewards. Features like point boosters, leaderboards, and optional lockups make the experience more competitive and engaging than regular staking.

Crypto.com SOL Airdrop Arena in Crypto.com’s Broader Earn Strategy

Airdrop Arena is part of Crypto.com’s larger rewards system, along with Earn, staking, and liquidity programs. By focusing on CRO, the platform strengthens its native token as the core of its ecosystem.

With a $250,000 prize pool, daily point accumulation, and multiple booster options, the event offers users the opportunity to earn rewards by committing CRO for the lockup period, the team says.

The exchange concludes that participation requires comfort with a six-month CRO lockup and variable rewards based on ranking and market conditions.

Visit Crypto.com

The post Crypto.com Unveils SOL Airdrop Arena With $250,000 Solana Prize Pool appeared first on Cryptonews.

Bitcoin surged back into focus after US inflation data eased fears of persistent price pressures, reigniting demand for risk assets and pushing BTC firmly above the $95,000 mark. With CPI confirming cooling inflation and technical structures flipping bullish, Bitcoin appears less like a speculative rebound and more like a continuation of a broader institutional-led trend.

Core CPI at 2.6% Lifts Bitcoin Toward $95,000

Bitcoin is trading near the $95,000 level after gaining more than 3% over the past 24 hours, supported by softer inflation data and a modest pullback in the US dollar. The latest US Consumer Price Index report showed headline inflation holding steady at 2.7% year over year in December, in line with market expectations, while core inflation remained unchanged at 2.6%, its lowest level since 2021.

United States Consumer Price Index (CPI) – Source: Tradingeconomics

On a monthly basis, CPI rose 0.3%, matching forecasts, with shelter costs accounting for much of the increase. Energy prices climbed 2.3%, while food prices rose 3.1%, underscoring that price pressures remain uneven rather than accelerating broadly. Crucially for markets, the absence of an upside surprise in core inflation eased concerns that the Federal Reserve may need to keep monetary policy restrictive for longer.

For Bitcoin, this environment matters. Stable inflation and a contained core reading reduce pressure on Treasury yields and the US dollar, allowing capital to rotate toward alternative stores of value. With real yields stabilizing, Bitcoin benefited alongside broader risk assets.

Japan’s finance minister and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent shared concerns about the weakening yen during a bilateral meeting as the currency edged toward a key threshold where authorities have intervened in the past https://t.co/el2QVQwBT1

— Bloomberg (@business) January 13, 2026

Currency markets echoed this shift. The Japanese yen slid to multi-month lows, while the euro and British pound traded with limited follow-through, highlighting continued unease around global monetary and fiscal conditions.

Against this landscape of fiat uncertainty and moderating US inflation, Bitcoin’s role as a policy-insensitive asset gained renewed attention from both institutional and macro-focused investors.

Fitch Warns on BTC-Backed Securities Risk

Fitch Ratings recently cautioned that Bitcoin-backed debt instruments carry elevated risk due to BTC’s price volatility, particularly where leverage and collateralized lending are involved. Crucially, the agency excluded spot BTC ETFs from this warning, noting that broader ETF adoption could help dampen long-term volatility rather than increase it.

Fitch Ratings warns of the risks of Bitcoin-backed securities

Fitch Ratings, one of the leading rating agencies, has warned that Bitcoin-backed securities carry high risks and speculative credit profiles.

The inherent volatility of BTC prices can quickly erode the value of… pic.twitter.com/B4kDhYp2kC

— Atlas21 (@Atlas21_eng) January 13, 2026

That distinction is significant for institutional investors. Exposure to Bitcoin is increasingly shifting toward regulated, transparent structures instead of speculative credit products. A clear example is the launch of 21Shares’ Bitcoin Gold ETP (BOLD) on the London Stock Exchange, which allocates roughly two-thirds to gold and one-third to Bitcoin, positioning BTC alongside a traditional safe-haven asset

Together, expanding spot ETF access and hybrid products are reinforcing Bitcoin’s institutional appeal while reducing dependence on leverage-driven crypto credit models.

BTC and Gold Converge as 21Shares Launches BOLD ETP in the UK

21Shares has launched its Bitcoin Gold ETP (BOLD) on the London Stock Exchange, giving UK investors access to a regulated product that combines gold and Bitcoin in a single structure. The fund allocates roughly two-thirds to gold and one-third to Bitcoin and trades in both US dollars (BOLU) and British pounds (BOLD).

Disclaimer: Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more: https://t.co/d9gFbwImMu

Introducing the 21shares Bitcoin Gold ETP… pic.twitter.com/neRbphESOr

— 21shares (@21shares) January 13, 2026

BOLD is fully physically backed, holding real gold and Bitcoin, and was developed in partnership with ByteTree Asset Management. By pairing gold’s long-standing role as a safe haven with Bitcoin’s growing reputation as “digital gold,” the product targets inflation protection and macro volatility.

The listing strengthens Bitcoin’s institutional credibility and supports long-term demand through regulated investment channels.

Bitcoin (BTC/USD) Technical Outlook: BTC Breaks Symmetrical Triangle as $95,000 Turns Into Support

From a technical standpoint, Bitcoin price prediction seems bullish as BTC’s structure has turned decisively constructive. On the 2-hour chart, BTC has broken cleanly above a long-developing symmetrical triangle that constrained price action through early January. The breakout followed a clear sequence of higher lows pressing against descending resistance, a classic setup for directional expansion.

Bitcoin Price Chart – Source: Tradingview

Former resistance between $94,500 and $95,000 has now flipped into support, creating a firm demand zone reinforced by shallow pullbacks and tight-bodied candles. The leading indicator, RSI, remains elevated near the upper-60s without showing bearish divergence, indicating momentum is strong but not overstretched.

If Bitcoin holds above $95,000, the technical roadmap points toward:

Initial resistance near $97,600

A higher extension toward $98,800–$99,000

A pullback toward $95,000–$94,500 would likely be viewed as constructive, with downside risk contained below $93,000. As long as BTC remains above broken triangle resistance, the broader trend favors continuation, keeping optimism alive for the next leg higher.

Bitcoin Hyper: The Next Evolution of BTC on Solana?

Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) is bringing a new phase to the Bitcoin ecosystem. While BTC remains the gold standard for security, Bitcoin Hyper adds what it always lacked: Solana-level speed. The result: lightning-fast, low-cost smart contracts, decentralized apps, and even meme coin creation, all secured by Bitcoin.

Audited by Consult, the project emphasizes trust and scalability as adoption builds. And momentum is already strong. The presale has surpassed $30.4 million, with tokens priced at just $0.013575 before the next increase.

As Bitcoin activity climbs and demand for efficient BTC-based apps rises, Bitcoin Hyper stands out as the bridge uniting two of crypto’s biggest ecosystems. If Bitcoin built the foundation, Bitcoin Hyper could make it fast, flexible, and fun again.

Click Here to Participate in the Presale

The post Bitcoin Price Prediction: CPI Surprise Sends BTC Flying – Is Wall Street About to Go All-In Again? appeared first on Cryptonews.

Animoca Brands has moved to strengthen its position in digital collectibles after acquiring gaming and collectibles studio Somo, expanding its footprint in Web3-native entertainment.

Key Takeaways:

Animoca Brands acquired Somo to expand its Web3 collectibles strategy.

The deal aligns with a sharp early-2026 NFT market rebound.

Despite the recent surge, NFT valuations remain far below prior cycle highs.

The company said Wednesday that Somo will be integrated into Animoca’s broader Web3 ecosystem, adding a lineup of playable, streamable and tradable digital collectibles to its portfolio of blockchain-based platforms.

Animoca to Plug Somo Into Global Web3 Partner Network

Animoca plans to support the expansion through cross-promotion, shared infrastructure and access to its global network of partners across gaming, media and digital assets.

“SOMO is building the cultural operating system for collectibles, which complements our existing portfolio,” Animoca Brands co-founder and executive chairman Yat Siu said.

“By bringing SOMO into the Animoca Brands ecosystem, we aim to connect it to our global network of games, communities, and partners.”

The acquisition comes as the non-fungible token market recorded a sharp rebound at the start of 2026.

Data from CoinGecko shows the total NFT market capitalization climbed about 20% in the first two weeks of the year, rising from roughly $2.5 billion on Jan. 1 to more than $3 billion by mid-January.

The move marked one of the strongest short-term recoveries for NFTs in over a year, following a prolonged downturn that weighed on prices and trading activity throughout much of 2025.

Do you remember @playsomo and $SOMO?

They just got acquired by @animocabrands. We’ll see how this plays out.

I’ve yapped about it a lot, and I’ve been waiting almost two years for the presale. But I also have to be honest: around 90% of Animoca Brands portfolio hasn’t really… https://t.co/szroaFPJhW pic.twitter.com/6eaFLMjfbl

— Djani (@DjaniWhaleSkul) January 14, 2026

CoinGecko data indicates that a large share of the gains occurred in a single 24-hour window, when the market added around $300 million in value alongside an 18.7% jump in daily trading volume.

Market participants pointed to renewed interest in established NFT collections, a pickup in high-value sales and the release of new token-linked NFT drops as drivers behind the surge.

However, some community members questioned whether the rally signals the start of a new cycle or a short-lived bounce after months of compressed valuations.

Despite the recent uptick, the sector remains well below its previous highs.

As of now, the NFT market cap stands at approximately $7.3 billion, a decline of about 59% year over year.

Meta Plans Reality Labs Layoffs as Focus Shifts From Metaverse to AI

As reported, Meta is preparing to cut roughly 10% of staff from its Reality Labs division, a move that highlights the company’s growing pivot away from the metaverse and toward artificial intelligence.

The layoffs could affect around 1,500 employees and may be announced as soon as Tuesday, with the cuts expected to fall heavily on teams working on virtual reality hardware and metaverse platforms.

Reality Labs, which employs about 15,000 people, has been a major source of losses for Meta since its launch in 2020.

The unit has accumulated more than $70 billion in losses, including $4.4 billion in operating losses in the third quarter of 2025 alone.

Recent reports suggest Meta is also redirecting some funding from Reality Labs to its wearables business, as well as trimming overall metaverse spending while increasing investment in AI development.

The broader metaverse sector has struggled to meet early expectations, with engagement concentrated in gaming-focused platforms such as Roblox and Fortnite.

The post Animoca Brands Acquires Somo to Expand Web3 Collectibles Push appeared first on Cryptonews.

US Senator Elizabeth Warren has called on federal banking regulators to pause their review of World Liberty Financial’s application for a national bank charter, arguing that the process should not move forward while President Donald Trump maintains direct financial ties to the crypto platform.

The request raises fresh questions about conflicts of interest at a moment when stablecoins are moving deeper into the US financial system and Washington is debating how far to go in regulating the sector.

Stablecoin Charter Puts OCC in Political Crosshairs, Warren Says

In a letter sent Tuesday to Jonathan Gould, the Comptroller of the Currency, Warren urged the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to delay consideration of World Liberty Financial’s bid until Trump divests from the company and removes what she described as “real and serious” financial conflicts involving himself and his family.

Source: Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

Warren, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee, said the situation was no longer hypothetical after a World Liberty subsidiary formally applied on January 7, 2026, to operate a national trust bank designed to support stablecoin services.

World Liberty Financial was launched in 2024 and lists Trump and his sons Barron, Eric, and Donald Trump Jr. as co-founders.

Trump-backed World Liberty Financial has launched World Liberty Markets, a new crypto lending platform tied to its #USD1 stablecoin.#Stablecoins #DeFi #USD1 #CryptoNewshttps://t.co/vginSli5es

— Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) January 12, 2026

The platform has grown quickly, raising more than $550 million through token sales and launching a dollar-backed stablecoin, USD1, in March 2025.

USD1 has since expanded to an estimated $3.4 billion in market value and has been used in high-profile transactions, including a $2 billion Binance investment by a third-party firm using the token.

A World Liberty subsidiary, WLTC Holdings, filed for the charter that would allow it to issue, custody, and convert USD1 directly under federal supervision.

World Liberty Financial filed for a US national banking charter, seeking OCC oversight to bring its dollar-backed stablecoin USD1 fully inside the regulatory perimeter. @worldlibertyfi#WLFI #OCC https://t.co/kDgbVB1c25

— Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) January 8, 2026

Warren argued that the application places the OCC in an unprecedented position.

Under the National Innovation for US Stablecoins Act, or GENIUS Act, signed into law by Trump in July 2025, the OCC became the primary regulator for federally licensed stablecoin issuers.

That role includes approving charters, writing rules, supervising issuers, and enforcing violations.

Warren said that approving World Liberty’s application would effectively make the president responsible for overseeing a financial company from which he and his family benefit, while the regulator itself serves at the president’s pleasure.

Crypto Policy Debate Intensifies as Trump Family Ventures Expand

In a public report cited in Warren’s letter, Trump and his family have earned more than $1 billion from World Liberty Financial and other crypto ventures.

Beyond World Liberty, the Trump family controls entities tied to an official Trump-branded meme coin launched on Solana in early 2025, several NFT collections that have generated millions in licensing revenue, and a Bitcoin mining company established by Trump’s sons last year.

These ventures mark a sharp shift from Trump’s earlier skepticism of digital assets and have been accompanied by a policy agenda that has rolled back enforcement actions and positioned the US as a global crypto hub.

The charter filing comes as regulators have shown greater willingness to bring crypto firms under bank-style oversight.

In December, the OCC approved national trust bank charters for several digital asset companies, including BitGo, Circle, Paxos, Ripple, and others.

The OCC has conditionally approved five crypto firms, including @Circle and @Ripple, to launch national trust banks.#Ripple #Circlehttps://t.co/wCeTNrhOQZ

— Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) December 13, 2025

Trust banks cannot take deposits or make loans, but they can provide custody and settlement services, making them an attractive structure for stablecoin issuers seeking tighter integration with the traditional financial system.

Warren’s push also lands amid broader legislative friction. There are many efforts going on in Congress, including the Stop TRUMP in Crypto Act and the End Crypto Corruption Act, that aim to restrict elected officials and their families from owning or profiting from digital assets, but none have advanced into law.

The post Elizabeth Warren Urges Regulator to Freeze World Liberty Bank Bid Until Trump Cuts Crypto Ties appeared first on Cryptonews.

Kryptoměnový trh je dnes vzhůru, kapitalizace kryptoměn stoupla o 3,6 % na 3,33 bilionu USD. V okamžiku psaní bylo 95 z prvních 100 mincí v rámci posledních 24 hodin v růstu. Kromě toho dosahuje celkový objem obchodování kryptoměn 174 miliard USD, což je zpět na úrovni, ke které jsme zvyklí poslední dobou.

Shrnutí:

Trh kryptoměn stoupl o 3,6 % ve středu ráno (UTC);

Dnes klesly 95 z prvních 100 mincí a všechny z prvních 10 mincí;

BTC vzrostl o 3,4 % na 91 271 USD a ETH je o 6,6 % výše na 3 328 USD;

Ethereum mělo svůj okamžik v tomto cyklu. V létě roku 2025 konečně překonal své předchozí vrcholy a zaznamenal nový historický maximum kolem 4 900 USD, což bylo podpořeno silnými tokami ETF, poptávkou po stakingu a znovu probuzeným zájmem retail investorem.

Od té doby se pohyb cen utišil. Ethereum sledoval celkový trh dolů a odrážel přibližně 40 %, což vrátilo ETH do oblasti, kterou mnoho dlouhodobých investorem nyní považuje za konsolidaci spíše než za slabost.

Zároveň, protože trh s klesajícími cenami je stále v průběhu, začínají se pozorností obracet na projekty v rané fázi. Jedním z nich je BMIC (BMIC).

Nová zpráva z kryptoměnové burzy CEX.IO ukazuje, že tokenizované zlato se v roce 2025 stalo jedním z nejrychleji rostoucích segmentů trhu reálných světových aktiv (RWA).

Obchodní činnost a rozvoj trhu překonaly mnoho tradičních produktů pro investice do zlata.

Tokenizované zlato zastupuje čtvrtinu růstu RWA

Podle zprávy vzrostla kapitalizace tokenizovaného zlata v roce 2025 o 177 %, přičemž se zvýšila z přibližně 1,6 miliardy USD na 4,4 miliardy USD. To představuje přibližně 2,8 miliardy USD čisté hodnoty, což činí přibližně 25 % celkového růstu trhu reálných světových aktiv (RWA) za rok.

Ripple získal předběžné schválení pro elektronickou peněžní instituci (EMI) od finančního dozoru Lucemburku, což je další regulativní úspěch při rozšiřování svého platebního podnikání v Evropě.

Klíčové poznatky:

Ripple získal předběžné schválení EMI v Lucemburku, aby rozšířil regulované platební systémy v rámci EU.

Sériová schválení v Lucemburku a Spojeném království prohlubují evropskou přítomnost Ripple.

Licence podporují snahu Ripple o poskytování platební infrastruktury pro banky a instituce.

Vláda Ugandy v úterý uvalila národní zástavu přístupu k internetu před prezidentskými volbami ve čtvrtek, což vyvolalo nárůst stažení aplikace Bitchat, decenteralizované zprávy, která funguje offline.

Ugandská komise pro komunikace nařídila mobilním operátorům pozastavit veřejný přístup k internetu od 18 hodin místního času, a to kvůli obavám z šíření nepravdivých informací a podvodů při volbách, zatímco 81letý prezident Yoweri Museveni usiluje o sedmé funkční období proti opozičnímu kandidátovi Bobimu Winovi.

Vývojář aplikace Bitchat Calle oznámil, že aplikace se stala nejvíce stahovanou aplikací v Ugandě, když obyvatelé připravovali zastavení služeb.

Visa použila BVNK k zajištění plateb stabilními mincemi přes síť Visa Direct, což přispívá k jejímu širšímu úsilí o integraci digitálních aktiv do globální infrastruktury plateb.

Významná zpráva: poskytujeme infrastrukturu pro platby stabilními mincemi pro @Visa Direct

Od tohoto roku s pilotními programy bude BVNK poskytovat infrastrukturu stabilních mincí pro reálný platební síť @VISADIRECT o hodnotě 1,7 bilionu dolarů, což umožní rychlejší a flexibilnější pohyb peněz po celém světě. pic.twitter.com/0SxgIRrhof

— BVNK (@BVNKFinance) 14. ledna 2026

Předseda výboru pro zemědělství Senátu John Boozman oznámil, že legislativní text o struktuře kryptomarketů bude zveřejněn do konce pracovního dne ve středu 21. ledna, přičemž projednání výboru je naplánováno na úterý 27. ledna v 15:00.

Časový plán následuje paralelní akci Senátovního výboru pro bankovnictví, kde senátoři předložili 137 návrhů na změny zákona CLARITY před úterým projednáním, podle zdrojů, které viděly seznam předložených změn.

"Tento harmonogram zajišťuje transparentnost a umožňuje podrobné projednání, zatímco výbor pokračuje v legislativní práci, která má poskytnout jasnost a jistotu pro kryptomarkety," uvedl Boozman ve prohlášení.