📈 Bitcoin Mining Gets Early 2026 Boost — JPMorgan Sees Tailwinds
According to a JPMorgan analysis shared by CoinDesk, Bitcoin miners and data center operators have started 2026 on a stronger footing, thanks to several positive factors shaping the mining landscape this year.
🔹 Improved Profitability – Daily revenue per exahash (EH/s) has increased as Bitcoin’s price ticked up modestly while the network’s hashrate slipped, easing competitive pressure and lifting margins. Gross mining margins climbed to around 47%, with hashprice up about 11% from late December.
🔹 Lower Hashrate Helps – The average network hashrate reportedly fell ~2% in early January and remains below late-2025 levels, meaning less competition for miners and higher relative earnings per unit of computing power if the trend persists.
🔹 Market Cap Growth – JPMorgan estimates the 14 U.S.-listed Bitcoin mining firms it tracks added roughly $13B in combined market value in early 2026, lifting total valuation to around $62B.
🔹 Diversification to AI/HPC – Miners are increasingly exploring artificial intelligence and high-performance computing revenue streams beyond traditional block rewards — a shift that could improve long-term earning potential.
📌 Bottom Line: Easing hashrate pressure, modest Bitcoin price gains, and operational shifts are creating constructive conditions for miners in early 2026. If Bitcoin price and network trends remain steady, the sector could continue to see solid fundamentals. $BTC $USDT $BNB
🚨 Massive $282M Crypto Theft via Hardware Wallet Social Engineering Scam 🚨
A major crypto whale just lost over $282 MILLION in Bitcoin (BTC) and Litecoin (LTC) after falling victim to a social engineering attack — even though the funds were stored in a hardware wallet.
🕵️ What happened:
On January 10, 2026, attackers manipulated the victim into approving fake transactions and revealing access, draining ~1,459 BTC and ~2.05 million LTC from the wallet.
💸 How the funds were moved:
After stealing the crypto, the hacker quickly converted large amounts into Monero (XMR) — a privacy coin — using multiple exchange platforms. This sudden swap caused a notable spike in XMR price and made tracing the flows much harder.
🌐 Laundering tactics:
Portions of the stolen BTC were also bridged across Ethereum, Ripple (XRP), and LTC networks via THORChain, further obfuscating the trail.
💡 Key takeaway:
This incident is one of the largest hardware wallet social engineering thefts seen in 2026 and highlights that human factors remain the weakest link in crypto security, even with cold storage.
🔒 Security reminder:
Hardware wallets protect your keys — but NEVER authorize transfers or share recovery info in response to unsolicited messages or calls.
🚀 Ethereum Adoption Explodes — More People Using ETH for the First Time! 📈
On-chain data is showing a big surge in first-time users interacting with the Ethereum network, signaling fresh adoption rather than just activity from existing wallets. Glassnode metrics reveal that new addresses interacting with Ethereum have jumped significantly in the past month — suggesting more people are getting onboarded and using ETH for DeFi, stablecoin transfers, NFTs, and other apps.
Here’s what’s happening:
🔹 Massive new user growth — Month-over-month data shows a notable spike in wallets interacting with the network for the first time.
🔹 Network activity surges — Daily transactions on Ethereum have hit all-time highs (~2.8M), reflecting real utility and demand. 🔹 Active addresses doubling — Active address counts have more than doubled compared to a year ago, a strong sign of expanding usage. 🔹 Stablecoin volume up, fees down — Record stablecoin throughput and lower fees (thanks to scaling solutions like L2 rollups and recent upgrades) are making the network more accessible.
🔹 Real adoption, not just hype — Unlike typical activity spikes driven by price moves, this growth is rooted in new users joining the network and engaging with real use cases.
📌 Why it matters:
This trend points to organic Ethereum adoption — more wallets, more real-world usage, and deeper integration into decentralized finance and Web3 — which strengthens Ethereum’s position as a leading blockchain ecosystem.
📊 TL;DR:
Ethereum is onboarding more first-time users than in recent cycles, with network activity and wallet growth breaking records — signaling broadening interest and real utility adoption. $ETH $BTC $BNB
🚀 Bitcoin Update: Long-Term Holders Selling Less — Bullish Signal!
According to the latest on-chain data reported by CoinDesk today, long-term Bitcoin holders are selling significantly less in 2026 compared to 2025, even as BTC returns to a key price zone that previously capped gains. This slowdown in selling pressure from seasoned holders is being interpreted as a bullish sign for price stability and future upside.
📊 Key Highlights:
🔹 Long-term holders (those holding BTC for 155+ days) are taking profits more slowly than last year, reducing sustained supply pressure.
🔹 This lower selling pace suggests stronger conviction to hold rather than dump at current levels — a potential positive for price strength.
🔹 Bitcoin’s price is testing resistance zones that capped moves in late 2025 — and reduced selling pressure could make it easier to break through.
📌 Why It Matters:
When long-term holders slow down selling, it means less overhead supply hitting the market. Historically, this kind of behavior can reduce downward price drag and set the stage for bullish continuation if demand picks up.
📢 BREAKING: Ripple Secures Preliminary EMI Approval in Luxembourg! 🇪🇺
Ripple has taken a major step in its European expansion — Luxembourg’s financial regulator (CSSF) has issued preliminary approval for an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) license. This “Green Light Letter” brings Ripple closer to full EMI authorization, which would allow it to offer regulated payment and stablecoin services across the entire EU under passporting rules.
This move comes just days after Ripple’s UK arm was granted an EMI license and crypto registration by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) — marking back-to-back regulatory wins in Europe.
💡 Why it matters
• Positions Ripple for broader regulated EU payment services.
• Strengthens institutional trust and compliance under EU’s MiCA framework.
• Adds to Ripple’s 75+ global licenses — one of the largest regulatory footprints in crypto.
🌍 With Luxembourg as a hub and passporting rights on the horizon, Ripple could dramatically scale its cross-border payments infrastructure throughout Europe. #Xrp🔥🔥 #MarketRebound #USDemocraticPartyBlueVault
🚀 Bitcoin ETF Inflows Surge — Biggest Since October!
U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs just pulled in ~$750 million in net inflows, marking their strongest single-day performance since last October — a major sign that institutional demand is returning after year-end rebalancing and cooler inflation helping risk assets shine again.
📈 Key Highlights:
• Spot Bitcoin ETFs saw $753.7 M net inflows — the largest daily total in ~3 months.
• Fidelity’s FBTC led the flows with roughly $351 M.
• Bitwise’s BITB and BlackRock’s IBIT also contributed strong inflows.
• Even spot Ether ETFs attracted fresh capital (~$130 M), showing broader crypto interest.
💡 Why It Matters:
This big capital return suggests institutions are rotating back into crypto after year-end cautious positioning, and it helps reduce sell pressure by moving Bitcoin out of exchange liquidity and into regulated ETF products — often seen as a bullish structural signal. #MarketRebound #BTC100kNext? #StrategyBTCPurchase #BTC $BTC $ETH $BNB
DASH just made a strong breakout, jumping to $58.85 with a massive +37% move in 1 month. 📈
The chart shows a long consolidation around $40–45, followed by a sharp vertical pump, which usually signals strong buyer momentum.
Key highlights:
💰 24h Volume: Over $700M (huge spike)
🔥 Market Cap: ~$739M (+55%)
📊 Vol/MCap: ~95% → strong trading interest
🚀 Clear breakout above previous resistance
This kind of move often happens when smart money enters and retail starts chasing. If volume stays high, DASH could retest $65+. But after such a fast pump, short-term pullbacks are normal.
⚠️ Always manage risk — pumps come fast, but corrections come faster.
🚀 Polygon Labs Announces Major Expansion into Stablecoin Payments — $250M Acquisitions
Polygon Labs has signed definitive agreements to acquire Coinme and Sequence in a strategic move to accelerate into regulated stablecoin payments in the U.S. for over $250 million.
🔹 Coinme brings strong U.S. licensing and physical distribution, with money-transmitter licenses across ~48 states and a network of 50,000+ retail locations. It’s one of the oldest regulated crypto payment providers and will operate as a Polygon subsidiary after approvals.
🔹 Sequence adds smart wallet tech and cross-chain orchestration — simplifying payments across multiple blockchains with an easy wallet experience and abstracted bridge tools.
📌 Why this matters:
• These acquisitions form core building blocks for Polygon’s Open Money Stack — a unified payments platform combining fiat on/off-ramps, wallet infrastructure, and cross-chain settlement.
• The vision is 24/7 real-time stablecoin settlements for banks, fintechs, enterprises & merchants, with lower costs and faster rails than traditional systems.
• Stablecoins are gaining traction as a settlement layer amid growing regulatory clarity and demand for blockchain payment rails.
💡 This push could significantly broaden Polygon’s role from a scaling network to a global payments and stablecoin infrastructure player — impacting how fiat and crypto move on-chain. #Polygon #BinanceHODLerBREV #crypto
📈 Standard Chartered Predicts ETH to Outperform BTC — $40,000 by 2030! 🚀
According to a new research note from Standard Chartered, Ethereum (ETH) is expected to outperform Bitcoin (BTC) in the years ahead, with a **long-term price target of $40,000 by the end of 2030.
🔹 The bank says 2026 could be “the year of Ethereum”, similar to Ethereum’s breakout cycle in 2021, driven by growing adoption of on-chain products, stablecoins, and tokenized assets.
🔹 Standard Chartered also sees the ETH/BTC ratio climbing, showing stronger relative performance for ETH vs Bitcoin.
🔹 Near-term forecasts were adjusted due to broader crypto market weakness — ETH is expected to reach around $7,500 by end of 2026, rising to $15,000 in 2027 and $22,000 in 2028 — but the long-term outlook remains bullish.
🔹 The bank highlights Ethereum’s structural advantages in DeFi, stablecoins, and decentralized finance infrastructure as key drivers for future growth.
📣 Coinbase Pushes Back on Banks to Protect Stablecoin Rewards!
Coinbase is stepping up the pressure on U.S. lawmakers and regulators to protect its ability to reward users for holding stablecoins like USDC — a key part of its business and user engagement strategy. The move comes as a major crypto market-structure bill (set for Senate markup around Jan. 15) could include new restrictions limiting stablecoin reward programs that Coinbase and other crypto platforms currently offer. 💥 What’s happening?
Traditional banks are lobbying for a broader interpretation of existing laws (like the GENIUS Act) that could treat third-party stablecoin rewards as interest — potentially banning them.
Coinbase argues banks are trying to stifle competition and protect their own revenue from deposits and card fees.
In response, Coinbase says it may withdraw support for the crypto bill if restrictions go beyond simple disclosure requirements — signaling how serious the exchange is about defending stablecoin rewards.
🔥 Why this matters
Stablecoin rewards are a big incentive for users and help drive adoption of digital dollars. Banning or limiting them could reshape how exchanges attract and retain customers and impact the broader stablecoin ecosystem.
What do you think — should stablecoin rewards stay? 🤔👇
Tether freezes $182M USDT on Tron — here’s what it means 👇
Tether has frozen $182 million in USDT across five wallets on the Tron blockchain, reportedly linked to suspicious or illicit activity.
This shows how stablecoin issuers can intervene when funds are connected to investigations, helping regulators track crime—but also reminding users that USDT is not fully decentralized.
Key takeaway:
✔️ Good for fighting fraud
⚠️ Raises concerns about censorship and control
Crypto is still about freedom—but compliance is becoming part of the game. $USDT $BTC $ETH
Zcash remains a strong privacy-focused crypto with limited supply and real use cases. If market sentiment turns bullish in 2026, ZEC could see steady upside driven by privacy demand and network upgrades. However, price will still depend on overall market conditions and regulation. Long-term potential is there, but patience is key.
Bitcoin remains the safer choice in 2026 due to its fixed supply, simple design, and strong reputation as digital gold. It’s less affected by upgrades or regulatory risks.
Ethereum offers higher innovation and returns, but frequent updates, smart contract risks, and regulation make it slightly riskier.