A memecoin launched by Former New York City Mayor&nbsp;Eric&nbsp;Adams sparked controversy Monday after it pumped and dumped, inviting allegations of a rug pull.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">NYC Token&#8217;s Rollercoaster Ride</h2>



The NYC Token (NYC) launched on the Solana <a class="ticker-link" data-ticker="SOL" data-exchange="CRYPTO" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SOL-USD" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sol/usd">SOL</a>)</a> blockchain to fight what Adams described as growing &#8220;antisemitism and anti-Americanism&#8221; in the country and in New York City.



The memecoin started with a bang and swiftly gained a market valuation of $540 million, only to crash 80% to $87 million roughly 30 minutes later, &nbsp;<a href="https://dexscreener.com/solana/exygvxvrvujjryo65vyuhlaccxhwyztkqa7jxqit2tvr" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">according&nbsp;</a>to Dexscreener data.



As of this writing, the meme coin was valued at $128 million, still 75% below the initial frenzy.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Proud to launch <a href="https://twitter.com/buynyctoken?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@buynyctoken</a>, a new token built to fight the rapid spread of antisemitism and anti-Americanism across this country and now in New York City. Now live at <a href="https://t.co/zowY9Ri3aK">https://t.co/zowY9Ri3aK</a> <a href="https://t.co/qBMzV88Tmj">pic.twitter.com/qBMzV88Tmj</a>&mdash; Eric Adams (@ericadamsfornyc) <a href="https://twitter.com/ericadamsfornyc/status/2010849167258566727?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2026</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">&#8216;Rug Pull&#8217; Allegations</h2>



The dramatic collapse sparked outrage, with several popular X accounts accusing Adams of a rug pull.



Cryptocurrency analyst Emperor Osmo said that Adams removed liquidity from his own token and made over $3 million through the scam.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Fix your headline. "Former Mayor of NYC Eric Adams, launches and rugs his own token 30 minutes after launch. Eric Adams, made over $3.3M from this scam." <a href="https://t.co/TKkgCPf7GP">pic.twitter.com/TKkgCPf7GP</a>&mdash; Emperor Osmo &#x1f402; &#x1f3af; (@Flowslikeosmo) <a href="https://twitter.com/Flowslikeosmo/status/2010904538702811153?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2026</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Rune, another widely followed on-chain analyst, made the same allegation.



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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Eric Adams, former NYC major, has just removed the whole liquidity pool of his new memecoin: a total of $3,430,000 scammed <a href="https://t.co/QgGAVzgM3H">https://t.co/QgGAVzgM3H</a> <a href="https://t.co/UdEbufckS3">pic.twitter.com/UdEbufckS3</a>&mdash; Rune (@RuneCrypto_) <a href="https://twitter.com/RuneCrypto_/status/2010848612427718893?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2026</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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X users have also added a community note to Adams&#8217; post promoting the memecoin, which reads, &#8220;Former Mayor Eric Adams immediately withdrew his liquidity from the coin, in what is typically called a &#8216;rug pull.'&#8221;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Response From NYC Token Team</h2>



The team behind the NYC token reacted to the controversy, stating that its partners had to &#8220;rebalance the liquidity&#8221; due to &#8220;overwhelming demand&#8221; for the memecoin.



They added that additional funds have been added to the liquidity pool.



Benzinga also reached out to Adams for a comment.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Statement: <a href="https://t.co/krRJEV4tjp">pic.twitter.com/krRJEV4tjp</a>&mdash; NYC Token (@buynyctoken) <a href="https://twitter.com/buynyctoken/status/2010926416355799269?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2026</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Political memecoins have existed before, with launches linked to President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and Argentinian President Javier Milei <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/02/43763620/first-ladys-melania-and-argentine-president-javier-milei-promoted-libra-coin-possibly-masterminded-by-same-team-allege-on-chain-detectives">sparking similar allegations of financial misconduct</a>.



Benzinga Note:&nbsp;Investing in meme coins, especially those launched by high-profile individuals, is highly speculative and involves significant risk. Meme coins often lack intrinsic value and are driven by market sentiment, social media trends, and speculative trading.



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Eric Adams-Promoted Memecoin Crashes 80% Minutes After Launch, Sparking Rug Pull Allegations Against Former NYC Mayor

ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood is calling for an economic &#8220;Goldilocks&#8221; scenario in 2026, forecasting real GDP growth surging toward 5%, accompanied by falling inflation—and potentially outright deflation—driven by an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/26/01/49716097/ai-tools-may-slow-experienced-developers-instead-of-boosting-productivity-study-finds-tasks-take-19-longer-with-assistance-report">AI-led productivity</a> boom.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">&#8216;Goldilocks&#8217; Return</h2>



In a latest ARK Invest video, Wood argued that the U.S. economy is exiting a three-year &#8220;rolling recession&#8221; that quietly battered housing and manufacturing.



Citing recent data showing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/economic-data/25/12/49578773/gdp-nowhere-near-4-3-rosenberg-dismisses-q3-report-as-fugazi-pegs-real-growth-at-0-8">real GDP growth</a> already topping 4% in late 2025, she expects this momentum to accelerate.



Contrary to consensus fears that rapid growth triggers inflation, Wood posits that the current surge is fueled by technology and productivity, which are inherently deflationary.



She highlighted declining oil prices, which could drop another 20-25%, and falling unit labor costs as key indicators that inflation will surprise to the downside, potentially turning negative.



&#8220;Growth does not cause inflation,&#8221; Wood stated. &#8220;Productivity-driven growth is associated with falling inflation. We think we are going back to the Goldilocks environment of the 80s and 90s.&#8221;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Housing Rebound &amp; Policy Support</h2>



Wood remains bullish on a housing recovery, bolstered by President Trump's announcement of a $<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/26/01/49804709/trumps-200-billion-peoples-qe-mortgage-stimulus-plan-could-backfire-economists-warn-it-will-worsen-housing-affordability">200 billion mortgage bond purchase</a> program aimed at lowering interest rates.



She noted that while homebuilders like Lennar Corp. <a class="ticker-link" data-ticker="LEN" data-exchange="NYSE" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/LEN" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/LEN">LEN</a>)</a> and KB Home <a class="ticker-link" data-ticker="KBH" data-exchange="NYSE" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/KBH" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/KBH">KBH</a>)</a> have begun cutting prices to clear inventory, improving affordability and lower rates should drive a significant rebound in residential real estate.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bitcoin As A Fiduciary Duty</h2>



Addressing asset allocation, Wood drew a sharp distinction between Gold and Bitcoin <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BTC-USD" target="_blank" class="ticker-link" data-ticker="BTC" data-exchange="CRYPTO" rel="noopener">(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</a>. While suggesting Gold prices may have reached &#8220;irrational exuberance&#8221; relative to money supply, she championed Bitcoin as the &#8220;ultimate diversifier.&#8221;



Wood presented data showing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/26/01/49688968/bank-of-america-joins-jpmorgan-citi-morgan-stanley-by-recommending-bitcoin-portfolio-allocation">Bitcoin's correlation</a> to traditional asset classes—including stocks, bonds, and gold—remains near zero.



Consequently, she argued that asset allocators now have a &#8220;fiduciary duty&#8221; to consider crypto assets to optimize portfolio risk and returns.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Stocks Remain Positive In 2026 So Far</h2>



The S&amp;P 500 and Dow Jones indices have gained 1.44% and 3.09%, respectively, on a year-to-date basis. The Nasdaq 100 index, on the other hand, has risen by 1.03% in the same period.



The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust <a class="ticker-link" data-ticker="SPY" data-exchange="ARCA" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SPY" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SPY">SPY</a>)</a> and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF <a class="ticker-link" data-ticker="QQQ" data-exchange="NASDAQ" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/QQQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/QQQ">QQQ</a>)</a>, which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, closed higher on Monday. The SPY was up 0.16% at $695.16, while the QQQ advanced 0.083% to $627.17, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.



The futures of the S&amp;P 500, Nasdaq 100, and Dow Jones indices were trading lower on Tuesday.



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<iframe loading="lazy" title="Mortgage Rates And Falling Oil Prices &#x7C; ITK With Cathie Wood" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-RH8u_v17HM?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Cathie Wood Predicts 'Goldilocks' Boom In 2026: 5% GDP With Deflation, Calls Bitcoin 'Ultimate Diversifier' For Portfolios

Sen.&nbsp;Cynthia Lummis&nbsp;(R-Wyo.)&nbsp;and Sen.&nbsp;Ron Wyden&nbsp;(D-OR)&nbsp;put forth a bipartisan bill on Monday with the intent to shield blockchain developers from being categorized as&nbsp;money transmitters under federal law.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">&#8216;Stop Treating Software Developers Like Banks&#8217;</h2>



The&nbsp;Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act aims to exempt &#8220;non-controlling&#8221; software developers and infrastructure providers&nbsp;from federal money transfer requirements.



Non-controlling developers are defined as those who develop or maintain blockchain-based ledgers but lack the legal authority to control transactions without third-party approval.



The bill also designated offering hardware or software for customer self-custody solutions and infrastructure support to maintain distributed ledger services as &#8220;protected&#8221; activities.



&#8220;This bill gives our developers the clarity they need to build the future of digital finance without fear of prosecution for activities that pose no money laundering risk,&#8221; said Lummis, Senate Banking Digital Assets Subcommittee Chair



&#8220;It's time to stop treating software developers like banks simply because they write code,&#8221; the pro-cryptocurrency lawmaker added.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Boon For Blockchain Developers?</h2>



The move follows the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/08/47274696/weeks-after-tornado-cashs-co-founder-conviction-doj-official-says-well-intentioned-developers-not-liable-for-third-party-abuse">Justice Department&#8217;s decision to soften its stance toward developers</a> who create decentralized platforms for transmitting cryptocurrencies without criminal intent



Roman Storm,&nbsp;co-founder of cryptocurrency mixing platform&nbsp;Tornado Cash,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/08/46919366/tornado-cash-co-founder-roman-storm-convicted-and-now" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">was convicted</a>&nbsp;last year for operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. 



Prosecutors said that Storm deliberately profited from criminal use of the protocol, but the defense argued that non-custodial software developers should not be classified as financial intermediaries.



Edward Snowden, the former CIA contractor turned whistleblower,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/01/36751582/edward-snowden-supports-legal-fund-for-tornado-cash-co-founder-roman-storm-privacy-is-not-" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">publicly backed Storm</a>, emphasizing that privacy is not a crime.



A money transmitting business provides financial services involving the transfer of funds on behalf of the public. These activities are regulated by federal law, specifically the Bank Secrecy Act.



Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/apis?utm_source=benzinga.com&amp;utm_campaign=article-bottom" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank"></a>



Photo courtesy: alfernec on Shutterstock.com

Cynthia Lummis Introduces Bill To Safeguard Crypto Developers From Money Transmitter Rules, Argues Against Penalties 'Simply Because They Write Code'

Bettors on Polymarket now assign over a 50% probability to a U.S. military strike on Iran this month, following a new advisory urging Americans to leave the protest-hit country immediately.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Rising Tensions: US Strike Odds Surge</h2>



The odds that the U.S. will strike Iran by Jan. 31 have risen to<a href="https://polymarket.com/event/us-strikes-iran-by"> 54%</a>, up 9 percentage points in the last 24 hours. The probability of such a military action happening by Jan. 23 jumped from 29% to 43%



Roughly $13.7 million has been wagered on this bet. The market resolves to &#8220;Yes&#8221; if the U.S. initiates a drone, missile or air strike on Iranian territory, including its embassies and consulates. However, missiles or drones that are intercepted won't count.



Polymarket, based on Polygon <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/POL-USD" target="_blank" class="ticker-link" data-ticker="POL" data-exchange="CRYPTO" rel="noopener">(CRYPTO: POL)</a>, has faced criticism in the past for launching betting events that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/10/41110897/ethereum-creator-vitalik-buterin-bats-for-polymarkets-model-amid-concerns-over-betting-on-" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">aim to profit from conflicts and wars</a>.



Meanwhile, the odds of Iran&#8217;s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, getting removed from power this month stood at only<a href="https://polymarket.com/event/khamenei-out-as-supreme-leader-of-iran-by-january-31"> 20%</a> as of this writing.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">US Issues Advisory As Death Toll Rises</h2>



The speculation comes after the U.S. virtual embassy in Iran asked Americans to leave Iran amid escalating anti-regime protests, which have now entered their 16th day.



&#8220;U.S. nationals are at significant risk of questioning, arrest, and detention in Iran.&nbsp;Showing a U.S. passport or demonstrating connections to the United States can be reason enough for Iranian authorities to detain someone,&#8221; the advisory read.



The U.S. Virtual Embassy is Washington&#8217;s official diplomatic outreach platform to Iran since the two countries don&#8217;t have formal diplomatic relations.



At least 656 people, including 505 protesters, have been killed in the protests,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.en-hrana.org/detailed-report-on-the-tenth-day-of-protests-36-dead-in-285-demonstrations/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">according</a>&nbsp;to Human Rights Activists News Agency, a U.S.-based non-profit organization. 



Iran claims that <a href="https://www.en-hrana.org/sixteenth-day-of-protests-families-of-victims-gather-at-behesht-zahra-cemetery-as-total-communications-blackout-continues/">foreign forces</a> are behind the riots, which began due to public anger over the falling value of the national currency and skyrocketing inflation.



The Trump administration is mulling a range of responses,<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/26/01/49836143/donald-trump-says-iran-wants-to-negotiate-amid-deadly-protests-tehran-warns-we-are-ready-for-war-but-also-for-dialogue"> including military action</a>, in response to the riots. Tehran has signaled both readiness for war and a willingness to engage in talks.



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

US Attack Odds On Iran Exceed 50% On Crypto Prediction Market As Washington Directs Americans To Leave Country Immediately

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman&nbsp;(R-AR)&nbsp;said Monday that the committee has decided to postpone the markup of the cryptocurrency market structure bill from Thursday to the last week of January.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">More Time Needed For Bipartisan Consensus?</h2>



Boozman said that the delay provides additional time for further discussions and refinement of the bill.



He revealed that the committee had made &#8220;meaningful progress&#8221; and had &#8220;constructive&#8221; bipartisan discussions over the weekend. Boozman reiterated his commitment to moving forward with the&nbsp;bipartisan crypto market structure legislation.



&#8220;To finalize the remaining details and ensure the broad support this legislation requires, additional time is needed before moving to markup. The committee will mark up this legislation during the last week of January,&#8221; Boozman issued a statement.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Key Obstacles</h2>



The delay comes as the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/26/01/49841531/coinbase-pushes-for-crypto-market-structure-bill-but-the-window-is-closing-fast">window narrows to pass this crucial legislation</a>, which seeks to establish a federal regulatory framework for digital assets.



Bernstein analysts warned the legislation must advance by the second quarter or risk stalling amid midterm election politics, with stablecoin rewards <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/26/01/49774968/chinas-decision-to-pay-interest-on-digital-yuan-gives-them-competitive-advantage-over-the-us-says-brian-armstrong-rewards-benefit-ordinary-people">emerging as the key stumbling block</a>.



Analysts at TD Cowen warned earlier that the bill could be delayed until 2029 due to President Donald Trump's cryptocurrency ventures.



The Democrats are seeking provisions that would prevent senior government officials and their families, including Trump, from owning or operating cryptocurrency businesses.



Trump has generated roughly $620 million from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/26/01/49856752/trump-affiliated-world-liberty-launches-lending-platform-a-conflict-of-interest">ventures tied to his family</a>, including&nbsp;World Liberty Financial&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/WLFI-USD" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a><a class="ticker-link" data-ticker="WLFI" data-exchange="CRYPTO" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/WLFI-USD" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(CRYPTO: WLFI)</a>, a DeFi and stablecoin project listing Trump and his three sons as co-founders.



Cardano <a class="ticker-link" data-ticker="ADA" data-exchange="CRYPTO" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ADA-USD" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ada/usd">ADA</a>)</a> founder Charles Hoskinson voiced skepticism about the bill&#8217;s passage in the first quarter and warned that Democrats would run midterm elections on an anti-cryptocurrency plank due to the &#8220;catastrophic&#8221; Official Trump <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/TRUMP-USD" target="_blank" class="ticker-link" data-ticker="TRUMP" data-exchange="CRYPTO" rel="noopener">(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">TRUMP</a>)</a> memecoin.



Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/apis?utm_source=benzinga.com&amp;utm_campaign=article-bottom" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank"></a>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Crypto Market Structure Bill Markup Pushed To January End To Ensure Broad Support, Says Senator John Boozman

Leading cryptocurrencies meandered, while stocks rallied to new highs on Monday amid key political and geopolitical developments.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th>Cryptocurrency</th><th>Gains +/-</th><th>Price (Recorded at 8:30 p.m. ET)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Bitcoin <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BTC" target="_blank" class="ticker-link" data-ticker="BTC" data-exchange="CRYPTO">(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</a></td><td>-0.09%</td><td>$91,251.43</td></tr><tr><td>Ethereum <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ETH" target="_blank" class="ticker-link" data-ticker="ETH" data-exchange="CRYPTO">(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>)</a> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>-0.79%</td><td>$3,099.73</td></tr><tr><td>XRP <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/XRP" target="_blank" class="ticker-link" data-ticker="XRP" data-exchange="CRYPTO">(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/xrp/usd">XRP</a>)</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>-0.60%</td><td>$2.05</td></tr><tr><td>Solana <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SOL" target="_blank" class="ticker-link" data-ticker="SOL" data-exchange="CRYPTO">(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sol/usd">SOL</a>)</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>-1.62%</td><td>$139.04</td></tr><tr><td>Dogecoin <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/DOGE" target="_blank" class="ticker-link" data-ticker="DOGE" data-exchange="CRYPTO">(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>-1.64%</td><td>$0.1367</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Crypto Momentum Tapers</h2>



Bitcoin rose to $92,390 in the early trading hours before losing steam and retreating to $91,000 region. Trading volume nearly doubled over the last 24 hours to $38.78 billion.



Ethereum traded in a tight band around $3,000, while volume surged 66% to $19.73 billion.



Shares of cryptocurrency-related companies, including Strategy Inc. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/LMT">(</a>NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MSTR">MSTR</a>)&nbsp; and Bitmine Immersion Technologies Inc. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/KTOS">(</a>NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BMNR">BMNR</a>), closed up 3.11% and 3.56%, respectively



Benzinga Edge delivers real-time stock alerts, trade ideas, and professional investing tools to help you navigate the market. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/edge/">Find out more about MSTR and BMNR here.</a>



Over $230 million was liquidated from the cryptocurrency market in the last 24 hours, <a href="https://www.coinglass.com/LongShortRatio">according </a>to Coinglass, with over 50% accounting for long liquidations.



Bitcoin's open interest fell 2.82% in the last 24 hours, while the percentage of Binance traders placing long bets on the apex cryptocurrency declined from 69% to 65%.



Top Gainers (24 Hours)&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency (Market Cap&gt;$100 M)</td><td>Gains +/-</td><td>Price (Recorded at 8:30 p.m. ET)</td></tr><tr><td>Story (IP )&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>+23.75%</td><td>&nbsp; &nbsp; $3.04</td></tr><tr><td>Verge (XVG )&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>+18.56%</td><td>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; $0.007063</td></tr><tr><td>BUILDon (B )&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>+18.03%</td><td>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; $0.2720</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $3.11 trillion, following a slight increase of 0.11% in the last 24 hours.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Stocks Close At Record Highs</h2>



Stocks kicked off the new trading week on a high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lifted 86.13 points, or 0.17%, ending at a record high of 49,590.20. The S&amp;P 500 reached a record close of 6,977.2 after rallying 0.16%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite closed up 0.26% at 23,733.90.



Gold and silver also surged to record highs as investors reassessed the Federal Reserve&#8217;s independence fears after the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/26/01/49844018/trump-versus-powell-doj-probe-kevin-hassett-fed-chair-odds">Department of Justice opened a criminal probe</a> into Chair Jerome Powell.



Oil prices rose slightly, with the U.S. West Texas Intermediate trading up 0.42% at $59.75 a barrel as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/commodities/26/01/49833476/trump-weighs-military-action-in-iran-crude-rallies-as-geopolitical-risk-returns-to-worlds-busiest-oil-route">geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and Iran</a> kept global energy markets on edge.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Will Bitcoin Hit $100,000 This Month?</h2>



Blockchain analytics firm CryptoQuant highlighted that short-term holders, i.e, those holding Bitcoin for less than 155 days, were increasingly selling at a loss even as the apex cryptocurrency continued its uptrend.



"Historically, this misalignment between rising prices and capitulating retail investors often marks areas of opportunity, where short-term fear contrasts with the structural strength of the upward price trend," CryptoQuant stated.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Retail Investors Fear Short-Term Volatility as Bitcoin Continues Its Upward Trend "Historically, this misalignment between rising prices and capitulating retail investors often marks areas of opportunity." – By <a href="https://twitter.com/gaah_im?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@gaah_im</a> <a href="https://t.co/2RcmrttcbK">pic.twitter.com/2RcmrttcbK</a>&mdash; CryptoQuant.com (@cryptoquant_com) <a href="https://twitter.com/cryptoquant_com/status/2010661570569973810?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2026</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Michaël van de Poppe, a widely followed cryptocurrency analyst and trader, noted Bitcoin&#8217;s resilience above the 21-day moving average near $90,000, indicating significant accumulation.



"In that regard, cracking $92,000 clearly and we&#8217;ll see $100,000 in max. 10 days," Van De Poppe projected.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">So far, so good. This is great. No drop beneath the 21-Day MA. Buyers stepping in to accumulate <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> at these regions. Given the fact that the markets hang in this range for such a long time, it shows the significance of the potential breakout levels. In that regard,… <a href="https://t.co/ufN17wJsgk">pic.twitter.com/ufN17wJsgk</a>&mdash; Michaël van de Poppe (@CryptoMichNL) <a href="https://twitter.com/CryptoMichNL/status/2010810514037751969?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2026</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Read Next:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/26/01/49768103/polymarket-partners-with-dow-jones-to-supply-prediction-market-data-across-major-outlets">Polymarket Partners With Dow Jones To Supply Prediction Market Data Across Major Outlets</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP Hold Steady While Dogecoin Dips: Analyst Sees BTC Reclaiming $100,000 This Month If This Happens

Bitcoin is holding around $91,000 as markets kick off the week with muted price action and broadly neutral sentiment.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Ticker</td><td>Price</td></tr><tr><td>Bitcoin</td><td><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BTC" target="_blank" class="ticker-link" data-ticker="BTC" data-exchange="CRYPTO">(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</a></td><td>$91,570.92</td></tr><tr><td>Ethereum</td><td><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ETH" target="_blank" class="ticker-link" data-ticker="ETH" data-exchange="CRYPTO">(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>)</a></td><td>$3,104.15</td></tr><tr><td>Solana</td><td><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SOL" target="_blank" class="ticker-link" data-ticker="SOL" data-exchange="CRYPTO">(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sol/usd">SOL</a>)</a></td><td>$141.21</td></tr><tr><td>XRP</td><td><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/XRP" target="_blank" class="ticker-link" data-ticker="XRP" data-exchange="CRYPTO">(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/xrp/usd">XRP</a>)</a></td><td>$2.06</td></tr><tr><td>Dogecoin</td><td><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/DOGE" target="_blank" class="ticker-link" data-ticker="DOGE" data-exchange="CRYPTO">(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)</a></td><td>$0.1380</td></tr><tr><td>Shiba Inu</td><td><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SHIB" target="_blank" class="ticker-link" data-ticker="SHIB" data-exchange="CRYPTO">(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/shib/usd">SHIB</a>)</a></td><td>$0.058478</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Notable Statistics:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Coinglass data shows 105,562 traders were liquidated in the past 24 hours for $283.05 million.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;</li>



<li>SoSoValue data shows net outflows of $250 million from spot Bitcoin ETFs on Friday. Spot Ethereum ETFs saw net outflows of $93.8 million. </li>



<li>In the past 24 hours, top gainers include Story, Monero and MYX Finance. </li>
</ul>



Notable Developments:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/26/01/49845453/how-ethereum-solana-could-benefit-from-the-clarity-act">How Ethereum, Solana Could Benefit From The CLARITY Act</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/26/01/49854479/dont-expect-any-big-pumps-for-bitcoin-just-yet-bitfinex-warns">Don&#8217;t Expect Any Big Pumps For Bitcoin Just Yet, Bitfinex Warns</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/26/01/49853512/bitmine-adds-24266-eth-as-bmnr-surges-4-but-thursday-vote-could-kill-the-rally">BitMine Adds 24,266 ETH As BMNR Surges 4%, But Thursday Vote Could Kill The Rally</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/26/01/49841531/coinbase-pushes-for-crypto-market-structure-bill-but-the-window-is-closing-fast">Coinbase Pushes For Crypto Market-Structure Bill, But The Window Is Closing Fast</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/26/01/49849492/strategy-buys-13627-btc-for-1-25-billion-but-mstr-teeters-around-150-support">Strategy Buys 13,627 BTC For $1.25 Billion But MSTR Teeters Around $150 Support</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/26/01/49835190/trumps-crypto-czar-should-resign-if-crypto-bill-doesnt-pass-in-q1-says-cardano-founder-charles-hoskinson">Trump&#8217;s Crypto Czar Should Resign If Crypto Bill Doesn&#8217;t Pass In Q1, Says Cardano Founder Charles Hoskinson</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/26/01/49833865/crypto-billionaire-michael-saylor-names-nvidia-bitcoin-among-best-performing-assets-of-the-decade-heres-how-theyve-performed">Crypto Billionaire Michael Saylor Names Nvidia, Bitcoin Among &#8216;Best Performing Assets&#8217; Of The Decade: Here&#8217;s How They&#8217;ve Performed</a></li>
</ul>



Trader Notes: Trader KillaXBT <a href="https://x.com/KillaXBT/status/2010781559880552952">explained</a> that Bitcoin's recent upside is largely technical in nature. 



Shorts that entered aggressively during the recent dip are now being forced to cover as price stabilizes and grinds higher, creating a squeeze. According to the trader, the move is being driven more by short covering than by fresh spot demand.



Crypto Tony <a href="https://x.com/CryptoTony__/status/2010777771031646463">said</a> Bitcoin is approaching a key area of interest. 



A wick toward $92,300 could present an attractive short setup, while the unfilled downside gap below remains a major magnet that may need to be cleared before any sustainable upside continuation can develop.



Daan Crypto Trades <a href="https://x.com/DaanCrypto/status/2010759177262481706">highlighted</a> the textbook weekend price behaviour, noting that Bitcoin closed the CME futures session on Friday and reopened on Monday at nearly the same level. 



No new CME gap was formed, and there are currently no significant nearby gaps acting as directional drivers.

Bitcoin Holds $91,000 As Ethereum, XRP, Dogecoin Drift Lower On Quiet Start To The Week

World Liberty Financial <a class="ticker-link" data-ticker="WLFI" data-exchange="CRYPTO" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/WLFI-USD" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(CRYPTO: WLFI)</a>, backed by President Donald Trump&#8217;s family, launched World Liberty Markets, a DeFi lending platform for its USD1 stablecoin worth $3.4 billion, even as critics point to conflicts of interest tied to Trump&#8217;s $800 million crypto income in 2025.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">USD1 Stablecoin Now Available For Lending And Borrowing</h3>



World Liberty Markets <a href="https://www.theblock.co/post/385131/trump-backed-world-liberty-expands-crypto-lending-usd1-stablecoin-ranks?utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=social">allows</a> users to lend and borrow digital assets using USD1 alongside collateral including Ethereum <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ETH-USD" target="_blank" class="ticker-link" data-ticker="ETH" data-exchange="CRYPTO" rel="noopener">(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>)</a>, USDC, USDT, tokenized Bitcoin <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BTC-USD" target="_blank" class="ticker-link" data-ticker="BTC" data-exchange="CRYPTO" rel="noopener">(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</a>, and the WLFI governance token. The platform is powered by Dolomite protocol.



Users can currently borrow USD1 by paying roughly 0.83% interest or lend it out to earn 0.08%, though these rates will likely shift as more money flows into the platform.



USD1 has grown to $3.4 billion in circulation since its March 2025 debut, making it one of the largest dollar-backed stablecoins behind only major players like Tether, Circle <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CRCL" target="_blank" class="ticker-link" data-ticker="CRCL" data-exchange="NYSE" rel="noopener">(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CRCL">CRCL</a>)</a>, and PayPal&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PYPL" target="_blank" class="ticker-link" data-ticker="PYPL" data-exchange="NASDAQ" rel="noopener">(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PYPL">PYPL</a>)</a> PYUSD.



The rollout aligns with a broader recovery in crypto credit markets.&nbsp;



A November report from Galaxy Digital found active DeFi loans climbed to nearly $41 billion by the end of Q3 2025, pushing total crypto lending to a new all-time high of roughly $74 billion.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Trump Family Earned $800M From Crypto Ventures In 2025</h3>



World Liberty lists Trump and his sons as co-founders, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/11/49118678/trumps-crypto-ties-come-under-fire-from-house-democrats-the-most-corrupt-crypto-startup-operation">creating</a> a situation where a sitting president profits from a crypto business he&#8217;s publicly associated with.



A Reuters investigation from October found the Trump family earned hundreds of millions from World Liberty Financial and related token sales in the first half of 2025.&nbsp;



Roughly $463 million came from WLFI token sales alone, with total crypto income exceeding $800 million across Trump-linked ventures.



That income eclipses what Trump makes from his traditional businesses like golf courses and real estate licensing deals.&nbsp;



The president also earned tens of millions from WLFI sales in 2024 before taking office.



World Liberty argues Trump doesn&#8217;t run day-to-day operations—those fall to crypto executives like co-founder Zach Folkman.&nbsp;



But critics say the distinction doesn&#8217;t matter when the president&#8217;s name is on the project and he&#8217;s making hundreds of millions from it.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Platform Launch Coincides With Bank Charter Application</h3>



World Liberty applied for a national bank charter just last week, seeking permission to issue and custody USD1 internally without relying on third parties.&nbsp;



If approved, the move would put USD1 under federal banking supervision.



The application came to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency—a regulatory body that reports to the Treasury Department, which reports to the president. Critics see this as another layer of potential conflict.



Folkman said the lending platform will eventually accept more types of collateral, possibly including tokenized Trump Organization real estate.&nbsp;



Moreover, the company <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/10/47964434/trump-backed-world-liberty-financial-to-roll-out-crypto-debit-card-by-early-2026-they-called-us-a-joke-a-memecoin">plans</a> to roll out a mobile app and debit card for USD1 later this year.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">What's Next for WLFI Token</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="685" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/12141237/image-163-1024x685.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1254898" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/12141237/image-163-1024x685.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/12141237/image-163-300x201.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/12141237/image-163-768x514.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/12141237/image-163.png 1339w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



WLFI has recovered 86% from October&#8217;s $0.09 low after crashing 82% from September&#8217;s $0.28 peak.&nbsp;



Upside Targets: $0.18791 (SAR) is immediate resistance. Breaking that opens $0.20 psychological level, then $0.22-$0.24 range. Clearing $0.25 targets the $0.28 former high.



Downside Risks: $0.15681 (middle BB) is first support. Loss of $0.14 risks retest of $0.12892 (lower BB). Breaking $0.12 threatens the entire recovery.



Image: Shutterstock

Trump-Affiliated World Liberty Launches Lending Platform—A Conflict Of Interest?

Bitcoin <a class="ticker-link" data-ticker="BTC" data-exchange="CRYPTO" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BTC-USD" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</a> has rebounded from late-November lows as Bitfinex maintains a constructive medium-term outlook for 2026 but warns that near-term upside could be limited.



What Happened: In its latest blog <a href="https://blog.bitfinex.com/bitfinex-alpha/bitfinex-alpha-cautious-optimism-builds-but-headwinds-remain/">post</a>, the exchange said geopolitical uncertainty, mixed spot ETF flows, and the need for sustained acceptance above resistance are keeping Bitcoin range bound.



A year-end reset in derivatives markets has cleared legacy positioning, creating a cleaner setup marked by cautious optimism, longer dated upside exposure alongside short-term downside hedges, with volatility compressed but gradually firming.



However, analysts cautioned that Bitcoin is now entering a dense supply zone between roughly $92,100 and $117,400. 



In this range, breakeven selling from prior buyers is likely to generate heavy overhead resistance, meaning it could take time and consistent spot demand to absorb supply and enable a sustained breakout.



Why It Matters: Bitfinex noted that macro conditions are reinforcing near-term caution. 



U.S. data point to slowing but resilient growth, with a hiring pause, rising productivity, and a Federal Reserve expected to remain on hold in the near term.



A narrowing trade deficit driven by falling imports also signals softer consumption and uneven momentum.



At the same time, global crypto markets continue to move toward deeper institutional integration. 



Regulatory developments in the U.S. and Japan point to a shift toward clearer oversight, exchange-based access, and closer links between stablecoins and traditional banking, laying the foundation for the next phase of digital asset adoption, even as Bitcoin digests near-term supply pressure.

Don't Expect Any Big Pumps For Bitcoin Just Yet, Bitfinex Warns

BitMine Immersion Technologies <a class="ticker-link" data-ticker="BMNR" data-exchange="NYSE" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BMNR" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BMNR">BMNR</a>)</a> acquired 24,266 Ethereum <a class="ticker-link" data-ticker="ETH" data-exchange="CRYPTO" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ETH-USD" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>)</a> last week, lifting holdings to 4.17 million ETH worth $13 billion, but Chairman Tom Lee warned accumulation will slow without shareholder approval to increase authorized shares.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">BitMine Needs 50.1% Shareholder Approval Or ETH Buying Stops</h3>



Lee said BitMine is about to <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/bitmine-immersion-technologies-bmnr-announces-eth-holdings-reach-4-168-million-tokens-and-total-crypto-and-total-cash-holdings-of-14-0-billion-302658230.html">exhaust</a> its current 500 million authorized share limit, which will force the company to slow ETH accumulation when it runs out of equity to sell.&nbsp;



A shareholder vote takes place Thursday at the Wynn Las Vegas requiring 50.1% of all outstanding shares—not just those voting—to approve the increase.



&#8220;This is an extremely high bar and thus, makes it very difficult to get an authorized share increase,&#8221; Lee said.&nbsp;



&#8220;We need to pursue this increase now as Bitmine is soon to exhaust its current 500 million authorization. And when that happens, our ETH accumulation will slow,&#8221; he added.



BitMine now owns 3.45% of ETH&#8217;s circulating supply of 120.7 million tokens, nearly 70% of the way to its goal of 5%.&nbsp;



The company added $73 million in cash last week while buying ETH, bringing total cash reserves to $988 million.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">BitMine Total Assets Hit $14 Billion</h3>



BitMine&#8217;s crypto plus cash plus &#8220;moonshots&#8221; holdings total $14 billion, including 4.17 million ETH, 193 Bitcoin <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BTC-USD" target="_blank" class="ticker-link" data-ticker="BTC" data-exchange="CRYPTO" rel="noopener">(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</a>, a $23 million stake in Eightco Holdings <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ORBS" target="_blank" class="ticker-link" data-ticker="ORBS" data-exchange="NASDAQ" rel="noopener">(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ORBS">ORBS</a>)</a>, and $988 million cash.



The company staked 1.26 million ETH worth $3.9 billion, up 596,864 in the past week.&nbsp;



Lee said at full scale, MAVAN (Made in America Validator Network) staking will generate $374 million annually or over $1 million per day using the 2.81% composite Ethereum staking rate.



BitMine <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bitmine-appoints-chief-financial-officer-and-chief-operating-officer-302657075.html">appointed</a> Young Kim as CFO and COO last week, adding finance and venture capital expertise as the company scales operations.&nbsp;



Kim previously served as Partner and Senior Portfolio Manager at Axiom Investors from 2021-2025.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">BMNR Stock Surges 4% Testing Triangle Breakout</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="685" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/12114818/image-162-1024x685.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1254688" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/12114818/image-162-1024x685.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/12114818/image-162-300x201.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/12114818/image-162-768x514.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/12114818/image-162.png 1339w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



BMNR is threading between the 0.382 Fibonacci at $31.81 and the 200-day EMA at $33.30, with the SAR flipping bullish at $28.04. 



The triangle&#8217;s upper boundary sits around $34-36, and a breakout would project toward $40-44 based on the pattern&#8217;s measured move.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">What's Next for BMNR</h3>



BitMine remains the largest &#8220;fresh money&#8221; buyer of ETH in the world, funding purchases by selling shares at a premium to modified net asset value (mNAV).&nbsp;



Without authorization to issue new equity, the company cannot continue its aggressive accumulation strategy.



Upside targets: Breaking $34 opens $36, then $40-44 extension.



Downside risks: Losing $31 support targets $29, then $24 base.



Lee said 2026 should favor Ethereum as stablecoin adoption and tokenization drive blockchain to become the settlement layer of Wall Street.



Image: Shutterstock

BitMine Adds 24,266 ETH As BMNR Surges 4%, But Thursday Vote Could Kill The Rally

Gold and silver surged to fresh record highs Monday as investors reassessed the Federal Reserve's independence fears amid <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/26/01/49844018/trump-versus-powell-doj-probe-kevin-hassett-fed-chair-odds">a new political escalation.</a>



 •&nbsp;MACOM Technology stok is approaching key resistance levels. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MTSI" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">What&#8217;s behind MTSI new highs?</a>



Gold prices — as tracked by the SPDR Gold Shares <a class="ticker-link" data-ticker="GLD" data-exchange="ARCA" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/GLD" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/GLD">GLD</a>)</a> — jumped 2.5% to $4,620 an ounce, setting another all-time high. Silver also soared more than 7% to $86 an ounce, extending its 12-month rally to over 190%



The move followed reports that the Department of Justice opened a criminal probe into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell over renovation <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/economic-data/26/01/49844033/jerome-powell-is-going-to-war-top-economist-wolfers-blasts-doj-as-department-of-recriminations-for-targeting-fed-chair">costs at the Fed's headquarters.</a>



Powell framed the investigation as a pretext to pressure the central bank into cutting interest rates, directly clashing with President Donald Trump's policy demands.



Markets read the development as another attempt by the administration to challenge the Fed's independence, with investors selling Treasuries and rotating aggressively into precious metals.



Major stock averages on Wall Street showed timid gains as the market adopted a wait-and-see stance ahead of a busy week of macro data and earnings. On Tuesday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics will release December inflation data.



The fourth-quarter earnings season also kicks off, with JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/JPM" target="_blank" class="ticker-link" data-ticker="JPM" data-exchange="NYSE" rel="noopener">(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/JPM">JPM</a>)</a>, Bank of New York Mellon Corp. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BK" target="_blank" class="ticker-link" data-ticker="BK" data-exchange="NYSE" rel="noopener">(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BK">BK</a>)</a> and Delta Air Lines Inc. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/DAL" target="_blank" class="ticker-link" data-ticker="DAL" data-exchange="NYSE" rel="noopener">(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/DAL">DAL</a>)</a> reporting before the opening bell. 



Financial stocks underperformed on Monday after Trump proposed capping credit card interest rates at 10%. Capital One Financial Corp. <a class="ticker-link" data-ticker="COF" data-exchange="NYSE" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/COF" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/COF">COF</a>)</a> tumbled 6.6%, posting its worst session since April 10, 2025. American Express Co. <a class="ticker-link" data-ticker="AXP" data-exchange="NYSE" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AXP" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AXP">AXP</a>)</a> fell nearly 5%, while Citigroup Inc. <a class="ticker-link" data-ticker="C" data-exchange="NYSE" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/C" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/C">C</a>)</a> dropped 3.5%. 



In contrast, Vistra Corp. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/VST" target="_blank" class="ticker-link" data-ticker="VST" data-exchange="NYSE" rel="noopener">(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/VST">VST</a>)</a> led the S&amp;P 500 higher, gaining more than 6% after Friday's 10.5% surge. Shares continued to climb on optimism surrounding a multi-year power contract with Meta Platforms Inc. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/META" target="_blank" class="ticker-link" data-ticker="META" data-exchange="NASDAQ" rel="noopener">(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/META">META</a>)</a>. 



Oil prices were little changed at $59 a barrel, shrugging off geopolitical turmoil in Iran. Bitcoin <a class="ticker-link" data-ticker="BTC" data-exchange="CRYPTO" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BTC-USD" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</a> rebounded 1.5% to $92,000.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Monday's Performance In Major U.S. Indices, ETFs</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th>Major Indices</th><th>Price</th><th>% Change</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>25,837.65</td><td>+0.3%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>6,980.36</td><td>+0.2%</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>49,501.11</td><td>0.0%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>2,630.20</td><td>+0.2%</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated by 12:10 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>



According to <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent011226&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a> data: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>The Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/VOO">VOO</a>) flattened at $638.74. </li>



<li>The SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/DIA">DIA</a>) moved -0.16% to $494.25. </li>



<li>The tech-heavy Invesco QQQ Trust Series (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/QQQ">QQQ</a>) eased 0.12% to $627.38. </li>



<li>The iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/IWM">IWM</a>) traded at $260.86. </li>



<li>The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/XLP">XLP</a>) outperformed, up 1.1%; the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/XLF">XLF</a>) lagged, down 1.0%.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Russell 1000's Top 5 Gainers And Losers On Monday</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th>Stock Name</th><th>% Change</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MTSI">MTSI</a>)</td><td>+9.34%</td></tr><tr><td>Pure Storage Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PSTG">PSTG</a>)</td><td>+8.84%</td></tr><tr><td>Chewy Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CHWY">CHWY</a>)</td><td>+6.34%</td></tr><tr><td>AngloGold Ashanti plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AU">AU</a>)</td><td>+6.16%</td></tr><tr><td>Tempus AI Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/TEM">TEM</a>)</td><td>+6.12%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th>Stock Name</th><th>% Change</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Apellis Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/APLS">APLS</a>)</td><td>-16.63%</td></tr><tr><td>Summit Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SMMT">SMMT</a>)</td><td>-12.93%</td></tr><tr><td>Sarepta Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SRPT">SRPT</a>)</td><td>-11.04%</td></tr><tr><td>Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ALNY">ALNY</a>)</td><td>-10.78%</td></tr><tr><td>Caris Life Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CAI">CAI</a>)</td><td>-9.90%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Photo: corlaffra via Shutterstock

Gold, Silver Spike To Record Highs As Fed Independence Falters: What's Moving Markets Monday?

X is preparing to roll out a feature that could reshape how investors track assets on social media. Nikita Bier, Head of Product at X, announced the development of Smart Cashtags, a new system that allows users to tag specific assets or smart contracts when posting a ticker. Unlike traditional tickers, which can be ambiguous, these tags will link directly to the exact asset, providing users with real-time price updates and a consolidated view of all mentions on the platform. The feature is currently in a feedback and testing phase, with a public release expected next month.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What Smart Cashtags Are</h2>



Smart Cashtags aim to eliminate 1 of the biggest challenges in social investing: ticker ambiguity. On many social platforms, the same ticker symbol can represent multiple assets. For example, a single symbol might refer to a stock, a cryptocurrency, or even a token on a different blockchain. Smart Cashtags tie each tag to a unique asset or smart contract, ensuring that users are seeing accurate information.



Once live, users will be able to tap a Smart Cashtag from their Timeline to view the asset&#8217;s real-time price and track all related mentions across the platform. This integration effectively turns X into a live dashboard where investors can follow price trends, monitor market sentiment, and observe engagement levels without leaving the platform.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why Investors Should Pay Attention</h2>



The potential value of Smart Cashtags lies in their combination of price data and social sentiment. Retail and institutional investors alike have increasingly looked to social media activity to gauge market trends, particularly in volatile sectors such as cryptocurrency. By providing a consolidated view of real-time price and mentions, Smart Cashtags could serve as a leading indicator for emerging trends.



Traders could identify which assets are gaining attention before price movements are fully reflected in the market. For example, a sudden spike in posts mentioning a particular token could signal heightened interest or early momentum. By correlating sentiment with price changes, Smart Cashtags may help investors make faster and more informed decisions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Market Implications</h2>



Smart Cashtags could also influence broader market behavior. Platforms like StockTwits and traditional Twitter tickers have already shown that social activity can drive attention and, in some cases, volatility. X&#8217;s approach adds precision by linking posts to exact assets and smart contracts, reducing noise and misinterpretation. This could be particularly impactful for crypto markets, where tokens with similar names or symbols often confuse investors.



For asset managers and traders, the feature could serve as a supplemental research tool. Monitoring asset mentions in real time may reveal patterns that traditional analytics platforms miss. Over time, it may become possible to identify sentiment-driven micro-trends or pockets of retail activity that precede broader price movements.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Limitations And Considerations</h2>



It is important to note that Smart Cashtags are still in development. Bier has emphasized that X is actively collecting user feedback as the company iterates toward a public release. Investors should treat early observations as indicative rather than conclusive.



Relying solely on social sentiment carries inherent risks. Viral posts or coordinated activity can distort perception, and overemphasis on social signals without fundamental analysis can be misleading. Additionally, as Smart Cashtags tie posts to smart contracts, errors in tagging or misidentification of tokens could generate confusion if not properly managed.



Despite these caveats, the potential for Smart Cashtags to provide a real-time window into market attention is significant. They represent a fusion of social media analytics and live market data that has not been widely available in a single interface.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Bigger Picture</h2>



Smart Cashtags reflect a broader trend of integrating financial data directly into social platforms. Investors are increasingly looking for ways to combine sentiment, engagement, and price information to inform decisions in real time. By allowing posts to function as both commentary and data points, X is positioning itself as more than just a social platform—it could become a hub for active market participants.



For traders, analysts, and investors, this development is worth watching. The rollout of Smart Cashtags may not only improve access to asset-specific information but also highlight emerging trends in investor behavior. How widely the feature is adopted and how accurately it reflects sentiment and market dynamics will determine its ultimate impact on trading strategies and decision-making.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A New Era Of Social Market Intelligence</h2>



X&#8217;s Smart Cashtags are more than a cosmetic update; they are a potential tool for investors to monitor real-time sentiment and price data in 1 place. By tying posts to exact assets and smart contracts, the platform could reduce confusion and improve the quality of information available to traders. As the feature approaches public release next month, investors and analysts should monitor its adoption closely. If successful, Smart Cashtags could signal a new era of social-driven market analysis and provide a useful edge for those who can integrate these insights into their strategies.



Benzinga Disclaimer: This article is from an unpaid external contributor. It does not represent Benzinga&#8217;s reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.

X Smart Cashtags Could Turn Social Media Into A Real-Time Investor Dashboard

Strategy Inc. <a class="ticker-link" data-ticker="MSTR" data-exchange="NASDAQ" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MSTR" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MSTR">MSTR</a>)</a> acquired 13,627 Bitcoin <a class="ticker-link" data-ticker="BTC" data-exchange="CRYPTO" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BTC-USD" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</a> for $1.25 billion at an average price of $91,519 per coin, but the stock is testing critical $150 support that threatens a breakdown.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Largest BTC Purchase Since July 2025</h3>



Strategy now holds 687,410 Bitcoin <a href="https://x.com/saylor/status/2010698959426105389?s=20">acquired</a> for $51.80 billion at an average price of $75,353 per coin.&nbsp;



The company funded this week&#8217;s purchase by selling 1.2 million STRC preferred shares for $119.1 million and 6.8 million MSTR common shares for $1.13 billion.



This marks Strategy&#8217;s largest Bitcoin purchase in 2026 and the biggest since July 2025, topping two $1 billion BTC purchases made in December.&nbsp;



Executive Chairman Michael Saylor hinted at the purchase Sunday with a post showing the company&#8217;s Bitcoin portfolio tracker <a href="https://x.com/saylor/status/2010362367973237050">captioned</a> &#8220;₿ig Orange.&#8221;



The company made its second purchase this year, having bought 1,286 BTC for $116 million between December 29 and January 4.&nbsp;



Strategy now approaches the 700,000 BTC milestone as the Clarity Act markup <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/12/49610162/how-the-clarity-act-could-boost-stablecoin-adoption-in-2026">approaches</a> this week.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">MSTR Stock Trapped Below All Major Moving Averages</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="685" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/12103913/image-161-1024x685.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1254539" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/12103913/image-161-1024x685.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/12103913/image-161-300x201.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/12103913/image-161-768x514.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/12103913/image-161.png 1339w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Technical Analysis: MSTR&nbsp; is now grinding near critical $150 support after a catastrophic 67% decline from July&#8217;s peak.&nbsp;



The stock sits trapped below all major moving averages: 20-day EMA at $164.46, 50-day at $193.81, 100-day at $238.36, and 200-day at $272.37.



The Supertrend indicator remains firmly bearish at $181.47, while a descending channel from summer highs continues compressing price lower.&nbsp;



The inability to generate any meaningful bounce despite extreme oversold conditions raises red flags.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">$150 Support Is Make-Or-Break Level</h3>



The $150 level represents critical floor support that has held multiple tests.&nbsp;



Breaking this support opens $140-145, then psychological $120-130. Loss of $120 risks complete collapse to $100 or lower.



Upside requires decisive reclaim of $164 (20-day EMA), then $175-180.&nbsp;



Breaking $193 (50-day EMA) would signal the first real reversal signs while ultimate recovery targets sit at the $238-272 zone where the 100-day and 200-day EMAs reside.



On shorter timeframes stock is coiling in a tight range between $155-158 with VWAP at $156.64 acting as immediate pivot, suggesting a resolution is imminent.&nbsp;



Image: Shutterstock

Strategy Buys 13,627 BTC For $1.25 Billion But MSTR Teeters Around $150 Support

Cardano <a class="ticker-link" data-ticker="ADA" data-exchange="CRYPTO" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ADA-USD" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ada/usd">ADA</a>)</a> founder Charles Hoskinson said he lost over $2.5 billion in the past four years, explaining that crypto&#8217;s failure wasn&#8217;t about technology—it was about government involvement that destroyed the bull market everyone expected.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Industry Expected Bull Market, Got Chaos Instead</h3>



Hoskinson <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bfYKc-HxUY&amp;t=1615s">told</a> The Wolf Of All Streets Podcast that the industry expected Trump&#8217;s election to pump crypto bags, but instead got chaos. 



Most cryptocurrencies have fallen 40-50% since Trump took office, showing the industry is unhealthy under current leadership.&nbsp;



He jokingly compared crypto&#8217;s current state to Japan in 1946.



The industry survived the FTX collapse, Luna implosion, and former SEC Chair Gary Gensler&#8217;s enforcement campaign, only to face new problems when the government got involved.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Trump Memecoin &#8216;Catastrophic&#8217; For Bipartisan Support</h3>



Hoskinson called the Official Trump <a class="ticker-link" data-ticker="TRUMP" data-exchange="CRYPTO" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/TRUMP-USD" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">TRUMP</a>)</a> meme coin launch catastrophic because it transformed crypto from a bipartisan issue with 70 Senate votes into a partisan weapon Democrats will use in midterm campaigns.



Before the launch, Democrats had constituents who owned crypto and donors from the industry.&nbsp;



Now they&#8217;ll campaign on the message that crypto equals Trump corruption, making it nearly impossible to pass meaningful legislation even if Republicans control Congress.



The strategic blunder goes deeper: Trump could have made two to three times more money launching a meme coin under a proper regulatory framework because it would have supercharged markets with institutional capital.&nbsp;



Instead, he launched into uncertainty and handed Democrats a political gift.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Why Crypto Failed Despite Trump Victory</h3>



Many retail holders are down 70-80% from their entry points and can&#8217;t justify another round of speculation to their families.



&#8220;Retail doesn&#8217;t want to come back. They&#8217;re just like my wife is going to divorce me if I keep buying this stuff because every time I say it&#8217;s going to 10x, I just get destroyed,&#8221; Hoskinson said.



The recovery bifurcated in 2025. Institutions bought Bitcoin <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BTC-USD" target="_blank" class="ticker-link" data-ticker="BTC" data-exchange="CRYPTO" rel="noopener">(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</a> through ETFs and structured products, driving BTC higher.



None of that capital trickled into the altcoin space, which stayed stagnant throughout the year.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">$2.5 Billion Loss And What Comes Next</h3>



Hoskinson revealed losing over $2.5 billion in the past four years, pushing back against critics who claim it&#8217;s easy for wealthy founders to remain optimistic about crypto&#8217;s future.



The Genius Act that passed was essentially fan service for banks, allowing them to become stablecoin issuers. It didn&#8217;t help DeFi, didn&#8217;t help layer-one protocols, and didn&#8217;t address innovation.



Hoskinson pointed out the irony: everyone bought Bitcoin to avoid Wall Street control, and now institutions hold all the Bitcoin on behalf of other people.



This is the make or break year for crypto&#8217;s soul. Either Wall Street takes over completely, or the retail revolution happens with the fourth generation and the market returns to decentralization.



Image: Shutterstock

Why Cardano Founder Charles Hoskinson Lost $2.5 Billion In 4 Years

The U.S. CLARITY Act could become a major catalyst for Ethereum <a class="ticker-link" data-ticker="ETH" data-exchange="CRYPTO" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ETH-USD" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>)</a>, Solana <a class="ticker-link" data-ticker="SOL" data-exchange="CRYPTO" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SOL-USD" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sol/usd">SOL</a>)</a>, and broader institutional crypto adoption, according to Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan.



What Happened: Crypto markets are entering a transition phase where regulation, infrastructure, and real-world use cases matter more than speculation, Hougan said <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lc1NKDlP1us">on</a> a Milk Road podcast episode.



Hougan argues the Clarity Act could deliver the regulatory certainty institutions have been waiting for, potentially reshaping the outlook for ETH, SOL, and the broader ecosystem.



Stablecoins are the largest real-world crypto use case, enabling low-cost, instant global payments and serving as a lifeline in high-inflation economies. 



As adoption grows, backlash is building from governments and regulators concerned about "stablecoin-driven dollarization."



Bitwise expects at least one emerging-market currency crisis in 2026 to be blamed on stablecoins, though long-term adoption is likely to continue, with some users eventually rotating into Bitcoin.



Stablecoin growth in emerging markets is being driven less by U.S. exchanges and more by fast-growing local apps that convert local currencies into dollar-backed stablecoins. 



These platforms are expanding rapidly in countries such as Argentina, Nigeria, and Mexico, even as government resistance rises.



Decentralized, ETF-like investment vaults could see a resurgence in 2026 after poorly managed products failed in 2025. 



Higher-quality curators and improved risk controls could attract yield-seeking capital, with assets under management potentially doubling from roughly $8–$10 billion to $20 billion as rates fall.



Why It Matters: Hougan argues passage of the CLARITY Act would provide durable market-structure rules, unlock institutional-scale tokenization of traditional assets and push Ethereum and Solana toward new all-time highs.



Clear regulation could enable hundreds of trillions of dollars in assets to move on chain, making current valuations for leading blockchains look undervalued.



While optimism is growing for passage in early 2026, timing remains uncertain. Bitwise also predicts deeper institutional acceptance ahead, estimating that roughly half of Ivy League endowments could gain crypto exposure following early adopters like Harvard.



Image: Shutterstock

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